"And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention" (Jeremiah 25:4). "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1).

Yesterday I called a businessman friend of mine. Like so many he's had some major setbacks in this economy and is presently looking for work.  I've known him since shortly after moving to the Lancaster area in 2001. He has had several jobs over the past ten years but each company has downsized or eliminated his position.  I was calling him about another matter but sensed some discouragement and brokeness in his voice. I asked him, not in a superficial way but in earnest, "How are you doing?" I appreciated his honest reply, "Trying to stay faithful."  I had prayer with him over the phone and sought to encourage him. I believe he was heartened, since our burdens are easier to bear when we know others are praying.

His experience and some of you reading this is expressed in an old hymn:

Our first Scripture verse today describes the period just prior to God's judgment of His people at the time of Jeremiah.  The message of truth had persistently been delivered "again and again" but they did not listen or pay any attention.

Paying attention is a practiced discipline of the mind.  There are so many distractions in life. In our electronic age there's more than ever.

Electronic gadgets continue to appear that should make us more efficient with our time, but in reality they clutter our schedules and distract us even more than the pre-computer age.  I came across this illustrative photo several years ago in a minister's magazine. Thankfully in my preaching I have never encountered inattentiveness as extreme as this but it does illustrate the many distractive elements in modern life.  But I do think we'd all agree that congregational members do take "commercial breaks" in their mind during the pastor's sermon!

The Holy Spirit inspired writer of Hebrews states, concerning spiritual things, "We must pay much closer attention."  There's a tendency to pay less and less attention to that which we are already familiar with as we grow older. But giving our undivided attention to spiritual truth really needs to increase throughout life if we are to be mature believers.

When we first moved down to Lancaster County we sat directly behind an elderly couple in church. Al and Thata Book were veteran servants of Christ having served in missions and various other roles of ministry including Bishop. They are both with the Lord now but I recall their very purposeful attentiveness and joyful receptivity as they would listen to the Word being preached. Brooksyne and I looked forward to sitting in their "shadow" so to speak, since their earnest response to God's Word, though well seasoned in their knowledge and teaching of Scripture, was contagious. In contrast there are those who subscribe to the attitude, "I already know that" as they grow older.  Such glum or haughty attitudes shut out the refreshing working of the Holy Spirit in one's life. 

The focus of our attention is to be on "what we have heard."  Of course in context this refers to spiritual truths. The Amplified Bible states, "the truths that we have heard."  Prior to the printing press and certainly at the time of the New Testament having one's own personal Bible was not possible. But they gathered and heard the Word. Today, most all of our readers can do both; gather with other believers to hear the Word expounded and also individually study the Scriptures in our devotional and prayer closet.

We must give unswerving attention to holding onto truth "so that we do not drift away from it."  Now I do not feel my friend was expressing this kind of desperation in the sense he was drifting away, but was merely sharing from his heart the discouragement at persistent closed doors.

A rather obscure verse in the Old Testament describes the people's response to God's Word during a time of revival as "Ezra read the Book of the Law aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law" (Nehemiah 8:3). A mark of genuine revival is giving proper respect and attentiveness to God's Word!

God has called and equipped us to be overcomers in all areas of life including inattentiveness.  Depending on the particular circumstance some have more overcoming than others but God is able and willing to meet us in our place of need.  Today let us heed the clear warning of the Scripture and let us "pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it""


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily Prayer: Father, Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  Without it we would walk in darkness and be led astray.  We want to give attention to Your Word, respect its message, and follow its instruction so that we will not drift from the truth.  In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

---

Brooksyne's Study Note:  I was further moved by the response of the people as Ezra opened the book and read to them: "The people all stood up.  Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground."

Perhaps this is the passage that prompts some churches to stand during the reading of Scripture.  But I especially note the people's physical and verbal response – by lifting their hands and responding together, "Amen!  Amen!" followed by bowing down in reverence and worship to God.  Most all of our readers have had access to God's Word all our lives, can read it anytime we want, and yet we often neglect to do so.  I think of those in closed countries who don't have access to Scripture and how they are so eager to hear the Word.  I pray that in my heart I would heed the Scriptures more and be genuinely mindful of the privilege we have of possessing our own Bibles for inspiration and instruction.

---

"Find Us Faithful"  Video  Steve Green

"Just As I Am"  Video  Brian Doerksen

"Take My Life And Let It Be"  Audio  

"Hand To The Plow"  Audio  Vince Stapleton

"We're Marching To Zion"  Audio  Piano instrumental

"I Love To tell The Story"  Video  Brooksyne suggested this song due to the line, "I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest."  Amen!

Here's a nice intrumental version of this hymn  Video