Tuesday, March 21
The antidote to drifting
Scripture: Hebrews 2
Hebrews 2:1–3 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
Observation
Three verbs stand out: pay closer attention, drift, and neglect. The author of Hebrews tells us to do the first to avoid the latter two.
Pay closer attention to what we have heard. The word “closer” is a Greek superlative: “a degree which is considerably in excess of some point on an implied or explicit scale of extent—‘very great, excessive, extremely, emphatic, surpassing, all the more, much greater.’” (Louw and Nida) Pay very close attention. The word of God, the message of Jesus, the gospel deserve our full attention every day.
The opposite of paying close attention is neglect. The Greek word literally means “to not care,” then, “to ignore, to neglect, to disregard, to pay no attention to.”
And the result of neglect is drifting. The Greek word uses the imagery of flowing water and of something floating or drifting away. It is used here of drifting away from a belief, gradually giving up one’s belief in the truth.
Application
Simple question: which best describes my regular spiritual practice—paying close attention or neglect?
When I was a youth pastor, I told high school students that you were either swimming or sinking but you don’t tread water for long. It was another way of saying that you’re either paying close attention to your relationship with Jesus or you’re neglecting it—thus, you’re either drifting or growing.
I don’t want to drift. I’ve seen others do it, and the results are ugly. I want to grow, so I’ll pay closer attention. What does that look like for me? First, this: keeping this time with Jesus a priority. Second, I want to expand and deepen my prayer life, and get better at listening to the Spirit. Third, I want to be more bold in sharing my faith.
There are certainly other things that could go on the list, but that’s where I’m starting.
Prayer: Lord, I love you and I want to grow in my love and devotion. I don’t want to drift! So help me “pay closer attention” today.