Hebrews 1-2 | Drifting

It is not only easy, it is natural to drift. If you've ever been in a boat of any kind in the water (large or small) you are aware of the unceasing movement that occurs. Without exception, even on a calm day, the flow of the water current pulls you from your original spot.

SPIRITUAL DRIFTING

The writer of Hebrews uses this picture to remind of us of our tendency to drift away from what matters and lasts.

"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it." (Hebrews 2:1)

STRONG CURRENTS

You would think that the spiritual life would be immovable. Truth is unchangeable, but the human soul is not. "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it," wrote Robert Robinson at the age of 22 in 1757.

Strong winds push us. The world and its marketing, our flesh and its weakness, and the devil who whispers to us incessantly, all push us downstream.

We can wake up many miles from Christ and His truth.

PAYING ATTENTION

The remedy for this drift is to "pay much closer attention to what we have heard."

We pay attention to what we value. If there is a current television show that we want to see, we plan our schedules around it. We wouldn't miss it for anything. We pay close attention.

But what about the words from heaven? When God is speaking, do we listen? And, not just listen, but pay "much closer attention?"

What adjustments should be made in your life this week to fight against the drift? More prayer, more study of His Word, more attention to instant obedience to the Spirit's prompting, more time with life-minded believers would fight the drift.

Surely there could be no greater task, for everything of value comes by closeness to Christ and attention the words that come from His lips right to our hearts.

Robinson's prayer (which we often sing) is a good one for us. Take a moment and pray through this old hymn.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.