Scripture (KJV) – Hebrews 2:1
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
Reflection
Most people do not wake up one morning and suddenly decide they are going to walk away from God. Usually, it happens little by little.
A prayer gets skipped. The Bible stays closed another day. Church becomes less important. Something we once knew was wrong does not bother us quite as much anymore. The voice of conviction becomes easier to ignore.
Before long, we can find ourselves farther from God than we ever intended to go.
That is why Hebrews warns us to “give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.”
We need to pay attention to the truth God has already given us.
One of the dangers of being around Scripture for many years is becoming so familiar with it that we stop allowing it to examine us. We can know the verses, understand the doctrines, and recognize the Bible stories while our hearts slowly drift.
Knowing God’s Word is not the same as obeying God’s Word.
The phrase “lest at any time we should let them slip” gives us a picture of something drifting away. Spiritual drifting can be so gradual that we hardly recognize it while it is happening.
That makes this a good verse for personal examination.
Is your prayer life stronger today than it was a year ago? Do you still hunger for God’s Word? Does sin still trouble your conscience? Are you as concerned about lost souls as you once were? Is Jesus Christ still at the center of your life, or have other things slowly taken His place?
Those are questions every Christian should occasionally ask.
And if you recognize that you have drifted, do not convince yourself that you have gone too far to return.
Come back.
Open God’s Word again. Get alone with Him in prayer. Confess whatever needs to be confessed. Remove whatever has been pulling your heart away. Begin walking closely with Christ again.
God may be using this very moment to get your attention.
Spiritual drifting happens one small step at a time. So does coming back. Take that first step toward God today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, examine my heart and show me if I have begun drifting away from You. Forgive me for the times I have neglected prayer, ignored Your Word, excused sin, or allowed the things of this world to become more important than my relationship with You. Give me a renewed hunger for Scripture and a tender heart toward the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Help me pay careful attention to the truth You have already shown me and give me the strength to obey it. Keep my heart close to Jesus Christ and help me faithfully follow Him every day of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
amazon.com/author/juniortateministries
