Verse of the Day 1/31

Verse of the Day 1/31/18

 

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

  I had mentioned recently that renowned pastor and author R.C. Sproul had passed away.  I had received an email from his organization, Ligonier Ministries that his final sermon was available online.  While Jean and I were headed down to Florida for her treatments we listened to the message.  I was on Hebrews 2:1-4 and was part of a series that he had planned but was unable to complete.  I was familiar with the passage and thought how fitting it was for his final message to be on not drifting away.  He had spent his life expounding on the gospel, driving it home so that people would not drift away.

 

Years ago Dobie Gray had a hit song "Drift Away" where the key line was "I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away".  It was a catchy phrase, a catchy song, but the implications such drifting would be to find yourself a long way from where you want to be with a long way back to where you beling.

 

We all know that it doesn't take much to drift, if you've been on a "lazy river" at a theme or water park, you get the idea.  The current simply carries you away.  So it is with our relationship with God.  If we don't spend time daily in his Word and in prayer we will drift.  The time that we do so will determine how far off we'll find ourselves when we come back around to it.  Sproul also referred to the flipside of drifting, also found in the book of Hebrews, that is of  being anchored.

 

Hebrews 6:19  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, English Standard Version (ESV)

 

The other thing that he focused on in the message was the statement "how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation".  There is a heaven and hell, this is clearly taught in the Bible and by Jesus himself.   The way to heaven is clearly shown in scripture to be faith and trust in Jesus Christ, following, being devoted to him and his word.  Neglect should never be able to be used as a word to characterize the relationship that we have with God and His Word.  Instead may we remain anchored with our attitude and guiding principle be that of the psalmist in Psalm 119:

 

Psalm 119:15-16  I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.  New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Hebrews 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation

2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, ⁴ while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

 

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