The direction in each of those epistles which were sent to the seven churches in Asia, in these words, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:7), teaches every member in any of those churches to apply to himself that which was delivered to the whole church. . . .

. . . if we do not bring the Word home to our own souls, it will be as a word spoken into the air (1 Cor. 14:9), vanishing away without any profit to us. Nothing makes the Word less profitable than putting it off from ourselves to others, thinking that it concerns others more than ourselves.

William Gouge, Building a Godly Home: A Holy Vision for Family Life, 156-157.