Drifting by Bob Gass- written for "The Vine"

Woe to you who are complacent.

Amos 6:1 NIV

The story's told of a boy sailing his boat on a pond when it started to drift away. A man saw the boat drifting, and began throwing stones that landed on the far side of it. "What are you doing?" the boy asked. Then something interesting happened. As the stones hit the water they created ripples which pushed the boat back toward the boy. Even though the stones disturbed the water, they achieved the desired result.

That's how it is with God sometimes. We drift away from Him; He throws stones, makes waves, and pushes us back to the shore of His love. The Psalmist writes: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word" (Psalm 119:67). The trouble with drifting is, by the time you discover it the current may have taken you over the falls. Following Christ means going against the tide; it calls for re-evaluating your priorities and renewing your commitment to Him each day. The Bible says: "Woe to you who are complacent." You don't have to do anything to lose ground Spiritually - just remain where you are while God moves on. The Israelites had to get up each morning determined to follow the cloud (God's presence) that was leading them. Why? Because their next supply of manna was only available at the end of that day's journey. To stay was to starve.

Are you getting the idea? Read these two scriptures: (1) "Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9 NIV). (2) "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).