Dear Friends, Welcome to our silver anniversary edition!
I have just read an article by Dr. Melvin Worthington in which he shares his thoughts on the peril of drifting. He highlights how we can drift away from the Word of God; he goes on to suggest how that affects our relationship with God and then thankfully offers us a remedy.
Hebrews 2:1-4 1We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the LORD, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers of the danger of neglecting the Word of God. Let’s look at the peril and the antidote.
The Reality: Possibility of Drifting. Lot (Genesis13:19), Samson (Judges 13-16), Jonah (Jonah 1), David (2 Samuel 11), and Solomon (1 Kings 1:11) serve as examples of individuals who ignored the Word of God
The Ruin: Penalty for drifting. Drifting results in losing one’s values (Genesis 19), vision (Judges 16), virtues (2 Samuel 11) and vitality (1 Kings 1:11)
The Road: Process of Drifting. The components that contribute to drifting include ingratitude, inattention, indifference, insensitivity, indulgence, inconsistency, and the influence of one’s family, friends, and foes (Mathew13:1-33)
The Remedy: Preventative from Drifting. The remedy includes diligence, discipline, and discernment. We need to heed the Word of God, hold the Word of God, and herald the Word of God.
Wow! There is so much packed into those thoughts, I could spend hours meditating upon these words, I could admire the intellectual progression of thought. I could even marvel at the alliteration, but unless I apply the lessons to my life it will do me no good. Dr. Melvin Worthington has given me the opportunity to deliberate but it up to me to accept the discipline of putting it into practise.
How much do we appreciate the worth of the Word of God as a beautiful, powerful gift from God?
How much do we accept the Word of God as the means of being guided and blessed by God?
How much do we apply the Word of God to every aspect of our life?
The Word of God has the capacity to guide our thoughts and shape our lives for the better. James urges us not just to be a hearer but also a doer of God’s word.
God Bless
Doug