We must give our full attention to what we were told, so that we won’t drift away.  Hebrews 2: 1 (CEB)

I remember once, when I was a girl, getting ready to walk out the door for school.  My mom said, “Don’t forget your raincoat.”

I looked out the front door at the beautiful sunny morning.  “Mom, it’s sunny.  I don’t need it.”  That afternoon, as I walked home from school in the pouring rain, I thought about that conversation.  Needless to say, the next time my mom told me to grab a raincoat, I listened.

My mom has always had some sort of innate sense about the weather.  She pays attention to the forecasts, watches the signs of nature, and trusts her experiences.  She knows what she’s talking about.

The other day, my second grader brought home notecards to study for a science test.  As we were reviewing, I realized that he had mixed up the definitions for “adaptation” and “camouflage”.  As much as I insisted that I knew the definitions, he refused to listen.  What would his mother know about science class? (Okay, in truth, not a lot.  I’m an English nerd.  But, 2nd grade science I think I’ve got a handle on!)  We finally emailed the teacher.  And, guess what?  Mama knew what she was talking about!

How often do we, as Christians, think we know better than God?  How often do we fail to give our full attention to what God is telling us and stubbornly go our own way?  How often does our own way lead to a great big mess we’re asking God to clean up?

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we need to give our FULL attention to what God has told us (and is telling us).  God wants our full attention on him not because he’s some sort of celestial know-it-all, but because he loves us.  He wants to care for us, to guide us, to support us, to heal us, to empower us, to make us better than what we are now.  Ultimately, God wants to share this life with us.  But we have to give him our full attention.  We have to listen.  And, yes, we have to obey.

If God says, “Take the raincoat”, we have to be willing to take it, regardless of the fact that it’s a beautiful sunny morning.  God knows what’s coming.  He sees the whole picture.

Give your full attention to what you have been told, so you don’t drift away.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara