Stray is a very interesting word for what happens when we quit listening to Godly instruction. To stray is the image of live stock in Solomon’s day and perhaps, more relatably, a dog for us. Strays tend to end up homeless and in shelters awaiting, if not adopted, being put down. Not a pretty picture. That should wake up the person who ignores God’s teaching. The writer of Hebrew’s gives a similar illustration. He talks about paying close attention or we will drift from the truth. The picture in Greek is of a person falling asleep in the bow of their boat tied to the dock. In the gentle rocking it gets untied and drifts out to sea. When they awaken they are lost at sea. Have you ever felt that way? I know I have. Like me, you may have found that you allowed your eyes and heart to slip off the main thing, God and His truth. It is so easy to drift with all the distractions in today’s world. Work, family, social life and even church activities can gently push our focus off of the main thing. Intimacy with Him is the main thing God desires for us. These are all good things. There are plenty of bad things after our attention as well. It’s an old yet true statement that Satan wants God’s children busy, if he can’t make us bad he’ll make us busy. Establish a protected time to focus on God and His word. Then protect it jealously. Today keep the main thing the main thing. #BeTheEdge
“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1 NIV
