The Bible says, ‘We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away…how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?’ (vv. 1, 3 NKJV). The words ‘drift’ and ‘neglect’ in that verse should set off alarm bells! Samson’s decline was so gradual that he didn’t even realise it was happening. Like flipping a switch, he’d become used to drawing on the power of God and overcoming every enemy and obstacle. But sin and self-indulgence became his undoing. When Delilah said, ‘“The Philistines are upon you, Samson!”…he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him’ (Judges 16:20-21 NKJV). When we neglect God, we begin to ‘drift away’. We might not notice it at first, but gradually we find our prayers aren’t as effective, and we’re no longer a godly influence on those around us. We refuse to forgive people who’ve offended or hurt us and don’t try to make amends to people we’ve hurt. We hold on to attitudes of fear and resentment. We start doing what’s easy and comfortable instead of what’s right. We slip back into old habit patterns, feeding our old natures and neglecting our new, godly natures. These are all signs that it’s time for a spiritual check-up and a check-in with God. Today, ask Him to highlight those attitudes, activities and relationships that need to be dealt with and start weeding them out. The good news is that when we’re obedient to God’s Word and the Spirit’s leading, we claim back our spiritual vitality, and God can use us even more effectively.
