Drifting
The Hebrew writer tells us, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” What does it mean to drift?
They takes all kinds of size and shape:
Some drifters live without zeal – paycheck to paycheck – weekend to weekend
Other drifters have their head down in the water and are swimming briskly – but the current is really pulling them along
Some drifters are more passive — the tightest grip in their life is around a remote control
Many drifters are just not listening – to God, their friends, their family
Almost all of them refuse to accept personal responsibility “either for their own lives or choices” (Nemick, The Spiritual Journey): 70.
The reality is that we are either a pilgrim/ a traveler seeking a new home or an aimless drifter. The Scripture offer countless warnings that we are to keep our spiritual fervor. Here are a few examples:
“The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.” Deuteronomy 30:6
“To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Proverbs 8:13
et no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
“The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14
I never tire of recommending people to read Jonathan Edwards’ Treatise on Religious Affections because I feel it is such a spiritual classic. I leave this post with this quotation:
“As the affections do not only necessarily belong to the human nature, but are a very great part of it; so (inasmuch as by regeneration, persons are renewed in the whole man, and sanctified throughout) holy affections do not only necessarily belong to true religion, but are a very great part of that. And as true religion is of a practical nature, and God has so constituted the human nature, that the affections are very much the spring of men’s actions, this also shows, that true religion must consist very much in the affections.”
Don’t drift today. Live!
