Young People's Group

Giving More Earnest Heed

by Pastor Mitch
July 31, 2015

The Problem Of Drifting Away From God

Untie a boat from its mooring on a pier and it will slowly drift away. The tide and waves will slowly carry it out. The writer of Hebrews also had this in mind when he wrote about the nature of the human heart. It can easily drift away and go away from God.

“Lest we drift away …” 
Hebrews 2:1

Drifting away from the Lord can be caused by different things. When people do not have a proper regard for God’s word, they can be swayed by false ideas. They can also drift away by getting caught up with distractions, sins and the disobedience of their own hearts. The people of Israel, in the text of Exodus 16, had just rejoiced in the successful crossing of the Red Sea. But within a short while in the wilderness, the people of Israel had started complaining against Moses. There was unbelief and disobedience in their hearts. They had started to drift away from God. Young people, let’s be careful that we do not drift away spiritually. Let’s not allow anything or anyone to take us away from the Lord and His word.

The Challenge To Make Every Effort To Not Drift Away

1. Giving Greater Regard To The Word Of The Lord

“… For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward … which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” 
Hebrews 2:2-5

The Lord’s word should always be highly regarded! If the words of angels were meant to be greatly honoured, even more so, should be the very words of the Lord Jesus. The words of angels had been proven to be most dependable and sure. When Zacharias doubted the words of angel Gabriel in the text of Luke 1, he became mute as a just reward of his unbelief. By a greater degree, the Lord’s word will always stand. This is because they have been verified by those who heard Him. God Himself had borne witness of the authenticity of the word of the Lord Jesus with great signs and wonders. Furthermore, in the text of Hebrews 1, it has been established that the Lord Jesus had become so much better than angels and has obtained a more excellent name (Hebrews 1:4). As such, there should be a greater regard to the word of the Lord when compared to the words of angels.

2. Giving Greater Heed To The Word Of The Lord

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard” 
Hebrews 2:1

With greater regard of God’s word, there must also come greater heeding of the things we have heard. The writer of Hebrews was challenging the Christians to take seriously the word of the Lord as they heard it. It is necessary that we pay that much more attention to it and not neglect it in any way. When we do not hold fast to the word of God, we can easily drift away. The apostle Paul also told young Timothy to take heed to himself and to the doctrine. When we take heed to the things we have heard and been taught, we are meant to take heed to how we live too. The word of God must be translated to our life. We are to continue in them and in doing them, we would save ourselves and those who hear us (1 Timothy 4:16). Young people, let’s work on our attitude with regards to His word. Let’s spare no effort in hearing and heeding it.

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