May 30, 2018 PAYING ATTENTION
Hebrews 2:1, 13: “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away for it. “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
If you are fishing out of a boat on a lake and the anchor is not down, while you may be focused on what tackle and what bait to use, without your being aware of it, the boat can drift. So it is with life; we can be so focused on and consumed with the immediate that we can find ourselves drifting from what is most important in life. The writer of Hebrews goes into great detail describing the glory and the majesty of Jesus and how God has appointed Jesus heir of all things. Words fall short of describing the absolute power of God-He created the universe and upholds all things; He spoke through the prophets; His throne is forever; He will make the enemies a footstool for Jesus; and He sent Jesus to redeem His people-these are the truly important things in life, and for all these reasons, “we must pay closer attention”. Our salvation is no small issue-it cost God the death of His Son on a cruel cross. We, as believers must be alert to the fact that we can drift from the foundations of the gospel. One reason for this is that because we become so ‘familiar’ with the message of the gospel, the impact of the gospel is diminished. To a great degree, this happens when we live out of principles and mental assent with the scriptures instead of a living and vibrant relationship with God our Father. A key factor in living in a relationship with our Father is that of experiencing His love that He has poured into our hearts. Romans 5:5. Knowing that God has fathered us and knowing our identity in Him-that He has made us new creations with new hearts, new minds, and new spirits-is an antidote for drifting. A second antidote is that of being rightly related to other believers where we find the encouragement to continue in the things of the Lord-encouraging one another “day after day.” Rather than taking a casual approach to our faith and belief in God, let us, as this verse tells us, “pay much closer attention to what we have heard.” If you are a believer, then you have heard at least some of the gospel. Hearing what God has said in His word, and hearing what He says to us through the Holy Spirit is to be a life time experience. Hearing what God says and acting on it-taking it to heart-is the key to experiencing life to the max. The good news is that no matter what our age is or our present circumstances, we can put into action what we have heard from God! Let us not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, but let us encourage one another-day by day.
Hebrews 2:3: “how 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.
Blessings,
Buddy
Hebrews 2:1, 13: “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away for it. “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
If you are fishing out of a boat on a lake and the anchor is not down, while you may be focused on what tackle and what bait to use, without your being aware of it, the boat can drift. So it is with life; we can be so focused on and consumed with the immediate that we can find ourselves drifting from what is most important in life. The writer of Hebrews goes into great detail describing the glory and the majesty of Jesus and how God has appointed Jesus heir of all things. Words fall short of describing the absolute power of God-He created the universe and upholds all things; He spoke through the prophets; His throne is forever; He will make the enemies a footstool for Jesus; and He sent Jesus to redeem His people-these are the truly important things in life, and for all these reasons, “we must pay closer attention”. Our salvation is no small issue-it cost God the death of His Son on a cruel cross. We, as believers must be alert to the fact that we can drift from the foundations of the gospel. One reason for this is that because we become so ‘familiar’ with the message of the gospel, the impact of the gospel is diminished. To a great degree, this happens when we live out of principles and mental assent with the scriptures instead of a living and vibrant relationship with God our Father. A key factor in living in a relationship with our Father is that of experiencing His love that He has poured into our hearts. Romans 5:5. Knowing that God has fathered us and knowing our identity in Him-that He has made us new creations with new hearts, new minds, and new spirits-is an antidote for drifting. A second antidote is that of being rightly related to other believers where we find the encouragement to continue in the things of the Lord-encouraging one another “day after day.” Rather than taking a casual approach to our faith and belief in God, let us, as this verse tells us, “pay much closer attention to what we have heard.” If you are a believer, then you have heard at least some of the gospel. Hearing what God has said in His word, and hearing what He says to us through the Holy Spirit is to be a life time experience. Hearing what God says and acting on it-taking it to heart-is the key to experiencing life to the max. The good news is that no matter what our age is or our present circumstances, we can put into action what we have heard from God! Let us not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, but let us encourage one another-day by day.
Hebrews 2:3: “how 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.
Blessings,
Buddy
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