Put it into Practice

Ezekiel is getting better and better, I got a lot out of it today... one of the few accomplishments I've had this Saturday. This verse stuck out because it made me wonder if I put what I hear preached into practice, amongst other things.

Ezekiel 33:31-32
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Why would anyone waste their time listening to something they planned on never doing? I don't know, but we do it all the time anyways. I think we do this because if we make the outward appearance look good, and we talk the talk or seem like we are then we have achieved our goal of looking good. Because as we all know you don't really have to be good to look good. Many times people are willing to listen to the gospel message, even "accept" Christ into their hearts, BUT the real question is whether or not we are willing to put the words we hear (or don't hear, but read in the Bible during our personal devotions)into practice; because anyone can sit and listen to something and still not put it into practice. We can say things we never intend on doing, we can even do the right things with our heart still in the wrong place. Devotion and unjust gain cannot be going on in the same person- if we are devoted to Christ we won't be "gaining" a whole lot by the world's standards- but, we will be gaining eternity with God- I think it's worth it all. To the Israelite's Ezekiel might as well be throwing a concert- they think it's fine and dandy to listen to him, but it's not as if they will actually put what he says into practice. Sad...