“Listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you and do them. Take care and keep your soul diligently. Watch yourselves very carefully lest you act corruptly” (Deuteronomy 4: 1, 9, 15).

Without doubt, Moses is one of the greatest leaders in human history. The story of his life, from his birth until the Lord himself buried him in Moab, is filled with examples of Moses’ faith, obedience, courage and leadership over God’s people. As I’ve read and re-read Moses’ story, one of the things that always impressed me is his desire that the Hebrew people remain faithful to the Lord’s commands. After all, it was Moses to whom the Ten Commandments and all of God’s law were delivered. As a result, his passion was that God’s people remain faithful to God’s law. 

There are many examples of Moses reminding the people of the need to remain obedient and faithful. In the passage of scripture cited above, Moses once again encouraged the people to obey. His words contain several things that I believe are equally instructive for us in our day as well. 

Note the very first word in the text; “listen.” In the original language, the word means to hear and to perceive. In that sense, the listening Moses had in mind involved more than the operation of the ear as a means of getting sound to the brain. It involved understanding and perceiving what was being said. Lots of people hear; fewer perceive. But he went further. Not only did he desire that the people perceive, as proof of their full understanding, he commanded them to obey what they perceived. 

Pay attention to the words he used in commanding them to obey. He used the following words and phrases:  do; take care; keep your soul diligently; and watch yourself. Those are strong and directive, are they not? I believe Moses was intent on communicating to the people that the proof that they truly listened was the degree to which they were intentional, active and consistent in obeying what they perceived to be God’s law.

I have a quote in my personal journal that says, “True learning does not occur until there has been a change in my behavior.” As Christians, listening to God’s truth is not enough. It is important to be sure, but it is not enough. The truest measure of listening is the degree to which we focus on paying attention to what God says so that we might do what he instructs us to do.

Are you a listener, a perceiver or a doer? My prayer is that I may be a doer as opposed to a listener. Join me in “keeping your soul diligently” as an obedient follower of Jesus Christ.