Chris' Corner -- Sunday, March 7, 2021
The Book of Hebrews was written to encourage Christians converted from the old Jewish religion, who were in danger of drifting back to the beliefs and practices of the Law of Moses, which was no longer valid (Colossians 2:14).
The inspired writer said, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). According to Vincent’s illustration in his Word Studies in the New Testament, “Drifting is a mark of death: giving heed, of life. The log drifts with the tide: the ship breasts the adverse waves, because someone is giving earnest heed.”
There is always a danger of those who are untaught not learning what they need to be saved. There’s an equal danger of those who are taught drifting away from what they have already learned. This takes place when Christians fall back into old beliefs or patterns of behavior, or they go beyond what is written in God’s word (2 John 9-11).
Peter felt it was his duty to remind his Christian brethren of what they had learned, even though they already knew it. “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Peter 1:12–13).
For the apostle, one reminder wasn’t enough. “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior” (2 Peter 3:1–2).
How often do we hear the gospel preached? Every Sunday, if you attend our worship services. Thinking about the sermons we hear from week to week, how many times have we thought, “I’ve heard that topic/study before.”? Do we say it with the idea we would like to hear something different, something new? Or do we have the same spirit as the psalmist, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalms 119:97).
Think of giving “earnest heed” the next time we sing the song by Arabella K. Hankey.
I love to tell the story.
’Tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy word.
I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
’twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.