PAULA WISEMAN

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From Hearing to Doing

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Title graphic from Hearing to Doing showing a stylized house built on a rock

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

Last week, we explored the importance of truly hearing God’s Word—with attention, comprehension, receptivity, and retention. But Jesus doesn’t stop with hearing. In His parable of the two builders, the critical distinction between wisdom and foolishness lies not just in hearing His words but in “putting them into practice.” The Greek phrase Jesus uses (poiei autous) literally means “does them” or “performs them.” True wisdom isn’t found in knowledge alone but in the application of that knowledge to daily life.

This emphasis on doing appears consistently throughout Scripture.

James warns against being “merely hearers” who deceive themselves and urges us to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22). Jesus Himself declared, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father” (Matthew 7:21). Knowledge of God’s Word, while essential, is only the beginning. The true test of our faith is whether that knowledge transforms our actions, decisions, and relationships.

The gap between knowing and doing is one of humanity’s oldest struggles. We often know what we should do but fail to do it. We understand God’s commands but find ourselves living contrary to them. We affirm biblical principles on Sunday but make decisions based on different values on Monday. This “knowing-doing gap” isn’t just a modern problem—it’s the same struggle Paul described in Romans 7:15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

What causes this gap between hearing and doing?

Several factors contribute.
Sometimes it’s simple forgetfulness—we hear God’s Word but quickly become distracted by life’s demands.
Sometimes it’s rationalization—we convince ourselves that certain commands don’t apply to our specific situation.
Sometimes it’s procrastination—we intend to obey but continually delay.
And sometimes it’s deeper resistance—parts of us remain unwilling to surrender to God’s authority in certain areas of life.

Bridging this gap requires more than good intentions or greater willpower. It requires a fundamental transformation of our hearts and minds through the work of the Holy Spirit. As Paul reminds us, “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Our role is to cooperate with this transforming work by creating patterns and practices that help translate God’s truth into daily living.

How can we become more consistent “doers” of God’s Word?

  1. Start small and specific. Rather than trying to apply everything at once, focus on one clear directive from Scripture. For example, if you’ve been reading about forgiveness, identify one specific person you need to forgive and take a concrete step toward reconciliation.
  2. Establish accountability. Share your commitment to apply specific biblical principles with trusted friends who can ask you how you’re doing. The knowledge that someone will check on your progress can provide motivation when your resolve weakens.
  3. Practice immediate obedience. When God’s Word challenges you in a specific area, respond promptly rather than delaying. Delayed obedience often becomes disobedience as our initial conviction fades.

The beauty of putting God’s Word into practice is that each act of obedience strengthens our foundation and prepares us for the next challenge. As we experience the benefits of living according to God’s wisdom, our trust grows, making future obedience more natural. What begins as difficult discipline gradually becomes delightful habit as we taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

Jesus concludes His parable with a vivid description of testing: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house.” These aren’t gentle showers but violent storms that threaten to destroy everything in their path. Yet the house built on rock stands firm. This is the promise for those who not only hear Jesus’ words but put them into practice—not immunity from life’s storms but stability through them.

Next week, we’ll explore this third aspect of Jesus’ teaching—what it means to face the inevitable storms of life with a foundation built on the solid rock of Christ’s words. We’ll discover how obedience to God’s Word doesn’t just benefit us in the present but prepares us for the challenges that lie ahead.

Hearing the Word

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Hearing the Word title graphic with a rendering of a hosue built on a rock

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

In Jesus’ memorable conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, He presents us with one of His most vivid analogies: two builders, two foundations, and two very different outcomes. The difference between the wise and foolish builders wasn’t in their construction skills or the materials they used—it was in their choice of foundation. And that choice began with something seemingly simple yet profoundly important: hearing the words of Jesus.

Before we can put God’s truth into practice, we must first receive it. This initial step of hearing might seem obvious or passive, but Jesus highlights it as the essential starting point for building a life that withstands life’s inevitable storms. In the ancient world, hearing was the primary way most people received God’s Word. Few owned written scrolls, and many couldn’t read. Their faith literally came “by hearing” (Romans 10:17). While we have unprecedented access to Scripture today, the fundamental importance of truly hearing God’s Word remains unchanged.

What does it mean to truly “hear” in the biblical sense?

The Greek word Jesus uses (akouō) implies more than just auditory reception—it suggests attentiveness, comprehension, and receptivity. It’s the difference between sound waves hitting our eardrums and truth penetrating our hearts. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls His people to this deeper kind of hearing: “Hear, O Israel” (Deuteronomy 6:4); “Listen to me, my people” (Isaiah 51:4); “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).

True hearing involves several dimensions.
First, it requires attention—focusing our minds on God’s Word rather than allowing it to become background noise in our busy lives.
Second, it involves comprehension—seeking to understand not just the words but their meaning and implications.
Third, it demands receptivity—approaching Scripture with an open heart, willing to be challenged, corrected, and changed.
Finally, it includes retention—allowing God’s Word to dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16) rather than quickly forgetting what we’ve heard.

In our information-saturated age, genuine hearing has become increasingly difficult. We’re constantly bombarded with messages competing for our attention—news alerts, social media notifications, advertising, entertainment, and the endless stream of opinions and ideas flowing through our devices. In this noisy environment, creating space to truly hear God’s Word requires intentional effort and discipline.

How can we develop the habit of truly hearing God’s Word? Here are some practical steps:

  1. Create sacred space. Designate specific times and places for engaging with Scripture without distractions. This might mean turning off notifications, finding a quiet corner, or waking up before the household stirs. The environment we create can significantly impact our ability to hear.
  2. Prepare your heart. Begin your time in God’s Word with a simple prayer for receptivity: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Acknowledge any resistance or preoccupations and ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear with fresh ears.
  3. Slow down. Our culture trains us to skim and scan for information, but Scripture deserves a different approach. Try reading smaller portions more slowly, perhaps even aloud.

The quality of our hearing directly affects the strength of our foundation. When we rush through Scripture reading as a religious duty or listen to sermons with half-attention, we’re like builders who glance briefly at the building site before starting construction. But when we truly hear—with attention, comprehension, receptivity, and retention—we’re carefully examining the ground, testing its stability, and ensuring our life is built on the solid rock of Christ’s teachings.

As we begin this series on building a life that lasts, let’s commit to becoming better hearers of God’s Word. It’s only when we truly hear that we can move to the next crucial step: putting what we hear into practice. Next week, we’ll explore this second aspect of Jesus’ teaching—how we bridge the gap between knowing and doing, between hearing God’s Word and living it out in our daily lives.