June 11, 2014
A famous airline disaster resulted when a distracted flight crew focused their attention on a fifty-cent light bulb rather than flying the plane. Focused on whether or not a landing gear indicator bulb was working properly, someone bumped the autopilot, putting the plane in a slow descent. Realizing much too late their low altitude, the plane slammed into the ground, resulting in tragic loss of life. This tragic airline disaster parallels a similar disaster than can befall us spiritually.
"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it." (Hebrews 2:1)
Familiarity easily leads to lack of vigilance. Those who work with machinery on a daily basis can take safety precautions for granted. But, machinery is completely unforgiving of even one instance of carelessness.
Familiarity with God’s truth is similarly perilous. Passion cools, and talking, teaching, and preaching drifts to other secondary things. It’s not so much that we blatantly deny truth; we simply diminish it through lack of focus and attention. It’s like bumping the autopilot on an aircraft, and slowly deviating from the correct flight path. Unless one is extremely vigilant, the slight variation from the course will be imperceptible.
With the passing of time, I’ve come to realize I don’t know what I think I know. The fundamentals of God’s truth have far more depth than I’ve previously realized. These are precious gems in a jewelry store that have many facets to discover and explore; more than enough for a lifetime. If I’m not careful to see their intrinsic value, I’ll easily look for other lesser-value jewels rather than exploring the precious ones God has graciously already placed in my hands.
There is no quick and simple fix to the danger of spiritual drifting. If it were so, it wouldn’t be a hazard. The subtle danger of drifting is that it takes time to see the deviation, and then only to the keenly perceptive person. A hunger for God’s word and truth seems to be the best preventative measure. Rather than being casually dismissive of what we’ve learned, we need to carefully consider what else there is to know and apply of it. Assuming there is far more to discover, rather than that we’ve learned it and are ready to move on to other things, seems to be a key perspective.
Evaluating where we are, and where we’ve been, factor in to avoiding the danger of drifting. A nostalgic look to the past can be detrimental, but an objective look back to evaluate past passion and priorities is vital. Has passion cooled, and priorities changed? Is the direction of my life now the result of growth, or drifting? And, if I’ve drifted and deviated in a detrimental way, how can I get back to the better pathway? These questions can go far in helping us avoid the danger of drifting.
Praying today that we each pay much closer attention so as to avoid the danger of drifting.
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it." (Hebrews 2:1)
Familiarity easily leads to lack of vigilance. Those who work with machinery on a daily basis can take safety precautions for granted. But, machinery is completely unforgiving of even one instance of carelessness.
Familiarity with God’s truth is similarly perilous. Passion cools, and talking, teaching, and preaching drifts to other secondary things. It’s not so much that we blatantly deny truth; we simply diminish it through lack of focus and attention. It’s like bumping the autopilot on an aircraft, and slowly deviating from the correct flight path. Unless one is extremely vigilant, the slight variation from the course will be imperceptible.
With the passing of time, I’ve come to realize I don’t know what I think I know. The fundamentals of God’s truth have far more depth than I’ve previously realized. These are precious gems in a jewelry store that have many facets to discover and explore; more than enough for a lifetime. If I’m not careful to see their intrinsic value, I’ll easily look for other lesser-value jewels rather than exploring the precious ones God has graciously already placed in my hands.
There is no quick and simple fix to the danger of spiritual drifting. If it were so, it wouldn’t be a hazard. The subtle danger of drifting is that it takes time to see the deviation, and then only to the keenly perceptive person. A hunger for God’s word and truth seems to be the best preventative measure. Rather than being casually dismissive of what we’ve learned, we need to carefully consider what else there is to know and apply of it. Assuming there is far more to discover, rather than that we’ve learned it and are ready to move on to other things, seems to be a key perspective.
Evaluating where we are, and where we’ve been, factor in to avoiding the danger of drifting. A nostalgic look to the past can be detrimental, but an objective look back to evaluate past passion and priorities is vital. Has passion cooled, and priorities changed? Is the direction of my life now the result of growth, or drifting? And, if I’ve drifted and deviated in a detrimental way, how can I get back to the better pathway? These questions can go far in helping us avoid the danger of drifting.
Praying today that we each pay much closer attention so as to avoid the danger of drifting.
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 7:32 AM
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