Drifting

So we must listen very carefully to the truths we have heard, or we may drift away from them. For since the messages from angels have always proved true and people have always been punished for disobeying them, what makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation announced by the Lord Jesus himself, and passed on to us by those who heard him speak?

God always had shown us that these messages are true by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving certain special abilities from the Holy Spirit to those who believe; yes, God has assigned such gifts to each of us.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (TLB)

In the days long before GPS, mariners would use a sextant - an instrument which uses the stars and the horizon as the basis for navigation. They would use the sextant several times a day to make sure they were on course. Imagine if they decided one day not to use the sextant. They might drift only a few degrees off, but a few degrees off traveling five hundred miles would put them way off course.

Christians also have an instrument that helps us as we navigate this life. That instrument is the Bible. When we pay close attention to the messages in God's word, we keep ourselves on the course God has set for us. And, like the mariner, we need to use it often; the Bible should be a constant guide in our lives. Robin Martin, from Mississippi, has noticed that when she has not spent time with God's word because she has let other interests or concerns get in the way, she begins to drift. But when she spends time with God by studying the Bible, Robin is not only redirected but also encouraged, inspired, and renewed.

Prayer: God of wisdom, help us realize the power of your word to keep our lives on a course that is guided by you and your love for us, in Jesus' name. Amen.