Pay Attention
From the book of Hebrews…
You and I have a number of problems.
You could be offended by this, you but you shouldn’t. Keep reading. There's one problem it is certain we both have: we're distracted-easily and often. Put another way, we have difficulty paying attention.
Is this a serious issue? Sure is!
What happens when we become distracted? Our attention shifts and usually we forget the object of our attention. Loss of attentiveness may cause accidents. Need a good example? How about texting and driving? Need proof that we have difficulty paying attention? How about texting and driving? If you watch it is possible to see someone texting and driving every day. But then you wouldn’t be paying attention either.
It's a small thing to be distracted by every day stuff. I am distracted now by what I see out our patio door. (Looking for rain) But here are important things to which we should always pay attention. Let me point out the most important one.
Pay attention to what Jesus did on the cross.
Failure to pay attention to this fact is serious. Our sinful hearts make it easy- even pleasant for us to forget the Gospel...what Jesus has done for us. We both know there are many things to which we give our attention. The work of Jesus on the cross on our behalf is the one to which we must be attentive-above all other things. Paying attention to Jesus avoids the ultimate accident…missing heaven for eternity.
Go back to our consistent problem of not paying attention.
There is another way for us to become distracted and not pay attention:
we are so busy.
Busy with work, socializing…social networking, busy with buying more things, busy with travel, busy with recreation, busy being entertained. You’ve heard these said, “I’m so busy, my week is crammed, I’m booked up…there should be more hours in a day…there are more. You get the idea-busy leads to loss of attention to the really important thing-Jesus.
Today, from the book of Hebrews, we are reminded to pay attention to the salvation we have in Jesus Christ...
"We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."
Hebrews 2:1-4
Clear words aren’t they?
Have you picked out what keeps us from paying attention? Leisure? Recreation? Possessions? Work? Relationships? How about problems? One of these is yours...it could be all of them. It’s true, these keep me from paying attention. Did you notice what the writer said happens when we are unable to pay attention to Jesus?
We “drift away.”
Are you drifting?
Stop and consider your life. The answer will not be hard to determine. To drift away from hope and truth is something neither of us should want. The greatest possession for any human is salvation in Jesus Christ! This is what the writer of Hebrews reminds us for today-and every day:
"pay most careful attention"
"do not drift away"
"do not ignore such a great salvation"
"God also testifies to it: by signs, wonders, various miracles, gifts of the Holy Spirit"
You have heard it before in Creator Words…hear it once more: Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
My friend...
If you are honest, you know if you are drifting. Please…Pay attention. Fix your eyes on Jesus today...and every day God gives.A final passage from Hebrews reminds us to pay attention with these words:
“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2