Dear SCC & Friends,
…lest we drift… ~Hebrews 2:1
Reflection #190
Drifting may be defined as the movement or direction from a desired path, which suggests that it is an unintentional or gradual process. It takes intentionality to stay focused on why we are here and what we are here for. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way… ~Isa. 53:6 It’s more than just doing our duty… The angel of the church of Ephesus addressed the problem… I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out. But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? ~Rev. 2:2-4 MSG When we begin to drift in any area of our lives, it’s subtle. Our activities can be like the undertow in the ocean… a slow and steady pull away from our first love… But there is a remedy which seems far too simple… Draw near to God and He will draw near to you… ~James 4:8
When I was 16 years old, I borrowed the family car and drove to an empty church parking lot where I could be alone and talk to God. I wasn’t in a moral crisis, but I was questioning what I wanted versus what God wanted for my life. I was smart enough to know that we had a conflict and knew I couldn’t win. I was a “mixed bag” of faith and doubt and distinctly remember praying these words as I sat alone in the car… “Dear Lord, I may leave you, but please Lord, don’t ever leave me!” He remained near to me, but I drifted far from Him until years later He brought me home. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way… ~Matt. 18:12 MSG He is the Good Shepherd who restores our soul. He brought us out to bring us in. We were made for these days… Keep up the good work!
Thank God for God,
Kevin