Hebrews 2:1-4 Chapter 2 1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away `from them'. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; 4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.

Drifting down a lazy river in an inner tube is a relaxing way to spend a hot summer day, but it’s not a good practice for our spiritual life. No one drifts into godliness, but it’s quite easy to float in the opposite direction. The world’s current will inevitably draw us downward into the polluted waters of sin.

Despite this reality, many Christians are not paying attention to their spiritual life and are drifting from the Lord. It happens so quietly and gradually that they are often unaware of their condition until they begin to feel the negative consequences as the Lord seeks to draw them back to Himself.   

What are the signs of spiritual drifting?

Neglect of God’s Word, prayer, corporate worship, and fellowship. These are the means Christ has provided for His church to be grounded in truth and to grow in spiritual maturity ( Acts 2:42 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. ). If we neglect them, we’ll become prey to all sorts of deceptions and temptations. 

The influence of other people. The verse “Bad company corrupts good morals” is certainly true ( 1 Corinthians 15:33 33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals. ). If we seek to please people more than we desire to know and obey God, we will be led astray. We must especially be careful not to imitate the attitudes and practices of those who don’t know Christ (Eph. 4:17-20). 

The influence of the world. A preoccupation with materialism and advancement sidetracks us from pursuing things of eternal value ( 1 Timothy 6:8-10 8 but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. 9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ). 

If you find yourself drifting away from the Lord, turn back to Him in repentance, asking for His grace to diligently follow Christ.

Bible in One Year: Job 35-38 Chapter 35 1 Moreover Elihu answered and said, 2 Thinkest thou this to be `thy' right, `Or' sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God's, 3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? `And', What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned? 4 I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee. 5 Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou. 6 If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand? 8 Thy wickedness `may hurt' a man as thou art; And thy righteousness `may profit' a son of man. 9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10 But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night, 11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens? 12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not hear an empty `cry', Neither will the Almighty regard it. 14 How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him! 15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance; 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge. Chapter 36 1 Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted `their' right. 7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted. 8 And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions; 9 Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. 10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they hearken and serve `him', They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. 13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, And their life `perisheth' among the unclean. 15 He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression. 16 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness. 17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold `on thee'. 18 For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside. 19 Will thy cry avail, `that thou be' not in distress, Or all the forces of `thy' strength? 20 Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness? 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung. 25 All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off. 26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable. 27 For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor, 28 Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly. 29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion? 30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance. 32 He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. 33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning `the storm' that cometh up. Chapter 37 1 Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place. 2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightening unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not `the lightnings' when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6 For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain. 7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom he hath made may know `it'. 8 Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens. 9 Out of the chamber `of the south' cometh the storm, And cold out of the north. 10 By the breath of God ice is given; And the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning: 12 And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world, 13 Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come. 14 Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know how God layeth `his charge' upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south `wind'? 18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; `For' we cannot set `our speech' in order by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? 21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them. 22 Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty. 23 `Touching' the Almighty, we cannot find him out He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart. Chapter 38 1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or `who' shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, `as if' it had issued out of the womb; 9 When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, 10 And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days `began', `And' caused the dayspring to know its place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? 14 It is changed as clay under the seal; And `all things' stand forth as a garment: 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof? 21 `Doubtless', thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great! 22 Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth? 25 Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the waste and desolate `ground', And to cause the tender grass to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters hide themselves `and become' like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth? 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee? 35 Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind? 37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together? 39 Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, `And' abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food?