October 31, 2017
It’s not only easy, it’s natural. If you've been in a boat of any kind in the water (no matter the size) you are aware of the unceasing movement that occurs. Even on a calm day, the 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, God is unmovable, 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 and his incessant whispering, all push us downstream. We can wake up in an instant a million 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 we want to see, we plan our schedules around it. We wouldn't miss it for anything. We give meticulous attention to our appearance, to our environments (because we love our comfort), to the latest, greatest material possession.
But what about the words from heaven? When Almighty God is speaking, do we listen? And, not just listen, but pay ""much closer attention?"" Surely there could be nothing more important than to be lashed to Him and His truth which sets us free.
What adjustments should be made in our lives 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 scripture memorization (a lost art to most), more fasting, more time with life-minded believers would fight the drift. Robinson felt that the constant meditation on God’s goodness would help us. “Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.”
Surely there could be no greater task, for everything of value comes by closeness to God and attention to the words that are designed to keep us from being “led away from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Robinson's prayer (put to music written by the great revivalist of the 2nd Great Awakening, Asahel Nettleton) is as important for us today as it was 260 years ago.
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.
January 23, 2025
We are sheep, pure and simple. We are wayward and foolish at every turn. But as we humbly come to the end of ourselves and gladly surrender to the Shepherd’s care, we begin to know the level of care and leadership we were designed to enjoy.
January 22, 2025
When you enter freely into the throne room because Christ has “given us an introduction by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:2) … never forget the price paid for your freedom and salvation.
Stand in awe of Him … and stand humbly.
January 21, 2025
We must cooperate with God in ways that make it so. We should be careful that it is nothing less … that we are creating an environment where people are encountering God and communing with Him. A place alive with His presence.
