Abide

Read: Hebrews 2:1-4

Hebrews 2 rides the coattails of chapter 1 where the author of Hebrews firmly establishes that Jesus is supreme above all creation, even the angels. In light of this, Hebrews gives a staunch warning, (the first of many) about paying attention so that one does not drift away. The author of Hebrews reasons that the word given by angels was clear and nothing escaped it – this is true even more so now that the Lord himself was revealed (Hebrews 1:2) and that the apostles attested to it by signs, miracles, and spiritual gifts.

Drifting away happens, as verse 3 points out, when one neglects his or her salvation. The salvation message brought by Jesus was the fulfillment of the requirements of the law that says that one must die for sins committed. Jesus died so that people don’t have to; rather they have the hope of eternal life through him. Salvation is a gift, but it wasn’t cheap. And even so, to don that gift requires one to consider carefully what when is accepting (Luke 14:26-35). Jesus wants that who love him to keep his commandments (John 14:15) and to know what God commands, one must know his word. Psalm 119 celebrates the laws and decrees of the Lord, and in the Psalm the psalmist in Psalm 119:9 asks rhetorically, “how does a young man keep his way pure?” He answers, “by keeping the commands of God.” Proverbs 4:1-4 encourages a son to listen to his Father and Mother’s teachings about the ways of the Lord such commandments, by keeping them he will “live”. Drifting away from the commands of God can only lead to a place where one is in danger.

Being in a relationship with God, though, is not about keeping a bunch of rules, rather remembering who the author and finisher of the faith, namely Jesus. Hebrews later encourages believers to fix their eyes on Jesus and toss off sin (Hebrews 12:1-2). The goal is not the laws themselves, rather Jesus. Being in relationship with Jesus requires spending time with him in prayer and meditating on his word as the psalmist in Psalm 119 did. In doing so, the Holy Spirit will abide richly in the life of Christian and he or she will not drift away, rather stay focused on Jesus!

Lord, help me not to drift away by paying close attention to all that have for me!