Apply Daily

(Proverbs 23:12 KJV)  Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

Is this poetic or profound?  In other words, are “heart” (3820) and “ears” (241) repetition for poetic emphasis or do they teach different nuances of the total truth?

First, though, we have the command to “apply” (935) ourselves.  It is easy to overlook the personal application of our energy and focus that is a necessary ingredient in spiritual growth.  The element of personal effort is always present in the quest for godliness.  I say that as I acknowledge the requirement of grace.  You can’t get away from our responsibility to respond.  This is a very common word.  It means to bring or enter.  Here it means to bring your heart to discipline or to consciously enter into discipline.

It is assumed that God’s grace has touched you.  It is assumed that the Blood has cleansed you.  What now?  Apply yourself.  This jumped out at me because as I was greeting the Lord before I took my head from my pillow He reminded me that I need to use my time more wisely.  Today.  Tomorrow.  Every day.

So?  Apply yourself.  That will have different applications for each of us because we walk different roads and face different challenges.  God will supply the opportunities and tools.  Use them.  I plan to.