AVOID DRIFTING AWAY FROM YOUR FIRST LOVE OF THE LORD

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore,
to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”
(Hebrews 2:1)

MEDITATION:
Whenever we think about the word ‘stand’ more than likely we
think about someone in an erect position with both feet on the floor;
someone who is not sitting or lying down.
Webster defines it as,
    ‘to be in an upright position’;
    ‘to move onto your feet from a sitting or low position’;
    ‘to be in an upright position with all of your weight on your feet’.

When we hear the term, ‘stand your ground’
we can visualize someone who is not moving
in any direction, regardless of the winds of influence that blow.

However, when the scriptures tell us to ‘stand’
it takes on an entirely different meaning, doesn’t it?
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day
of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after
you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

We can think of ‘stand’ as ‘being unmovable’
whenever our circumstances change, (and especially
when we feel the brunt of the temptations from Satan).

But if our focus is on standing in one place,
then we are like a ship without a sail or rudder, (which
of course means we can drift according to our circumstances).

Did you notice the key words in Ephesians “done everything”?
Doesn’t that imply that standing means “doing something”?
A ship without a sail, drifts depending on the water currents
because it is doing nothing, not moving forward,and has no direction.

If we are going to avoid ‘drifting’, then we need to be ‘doing something’.
As Christians, we need to have some spiritual ambition and goals to achieve.
If we are wondering what we should be doing, we can find
comfort in knowing that God has given us some much needed help.

First of all, the scriptures tell us that He will send
the Holy Spirit to believers when they have received His salvation.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send
in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of
everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we have an advocate who will not
only help us in transforming to become more like Jesus, but He will
also guide us in our efforts to serve the Lord and grow closer to God.

Additionally, He prays for us whenever
we struggle expressing ourselves and our heartfelt desires.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not
know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself
intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26)

Secondly, God gives us spiritual gifts
which are specifically designed for each individual.
There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit distributes them. (1 Corinthians 12:4)

Why would He give us these spiritual gifts?
There are many different reasons
and one of them is to ‘build up the church’.
So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of
the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
(1 Corinthians 14:12)

ACTION:
In Hebrews, we are told to ‘pay the most careful
attention…to what we have heard’ so that, ‘we do not drift away’.
‘Paying careful attention’ means
‘we apply to our own lives the instructions we have read’.

In order to do that, we need to be ‘eager for gifts of the Spirit’
(which means we have a strong desire to discover them).
And, once we have discovered them, we need to depend
on the Holy Spirit to show us how to use them to glorify God.

When we are actively using our spiritual gift to serve the Lord,
and we are depending on the Holy Spirit to guide us and make us aware
of the changes we need to make to become more like Jesus, then
we are ‘doing everything’ and are no longer like a ship without a sail.

The scriptures make it clear that the best way to avoid
being vulnerable to ‘drifting’, is to be busy serving the Lord.
Have you prayed and asked God
to give you goals for living the Christian life?
If so, has it created enough spiritual enthusiasm
and excitement in you to see it fulfilled in your life?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You know how easily I can drift away
from You as a result of the incredible temptations from
Satan. Your Word tells me that I can avoid drifting when
I follow Your instructions. Help me to invite the Holy
Spirit to guide me in all things and show me how to
surrender more of myself to Him. Too many times I have
had a desire to do things on my own, but I realize now that
I need the help of the Holy Spirit in order to overcome my
tendency to drift. Father, I pray that you would make it clear
to me which spiritual gifts You have given me, and I ask for
You to help me actively use them in order to avoid drifting
away from You.”