May 12-16

The Danger of Drifting Away from God

"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away
from it." —Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)

Have you ever fallen asleep on a pool float? It’s peaceful for a moment—until you wake
up halfway across the lake with no clue how far you’ve gone. That’s how drifting
works—it’s subtle, silent, and often unnoticed until it’s dangerous. Hebrews 2:1 sounds
the alarm: Don’t drift. Don’t let truth slip quietly from your life.

The verse doesn’t warn about defiance; it warns about distraction. Drifting happens
when we stop paying attention. That’s why we must cling to what we’ve heard—truths
about Jesus, salvation, grace, and our mission. Drifting never takes us toward God—it
always pulls us away. And that’s why the writer says we must “pay much closer
attention.” In a world full of noise, His voice deserves our focus.

Reflection Questions:
1. Where have you become spiritually careless or distracted lately?
2. What helps you pay closer attention to God's Word and presence?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, anchor my heart to Your truth and help me resist the drift that pulls me from
You.

Don’t Drift from God’s Purpose

"How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" —Hebrews 2:3a (ESV)

A man once ignored a cracked foundation in his home because “it didn’t seem urgent.”
Years later, the damage was costly and unavoidable. It wasn’t the storm that caused the
collapse—it was years of neglect. That’s what Hebrews 2:3 warns against: not outright
rejection of God’s salvation, but carelessness toward it.

Pastor Jim reminded us this salvation is “great” because it came at great cost, offers
great mercy, and secures great hope. To neglect it is to live as if it’s optional,
inconvenient, or unimportant. But the truth is, salvation is not just our ticket to
heaven—it’s our daily source of strength, identity, and direction. God’s purpose isn’t just
to rescue us but to shape us, use us, and walk with us.

Reflection Questions:
1. Have you been neglecting any part of your spiritual life lately?
2. How can you actively treasure the gift of salvation this week?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, keep my heart awake to the greatness of Your salvation—don’t let me drift into
neglect.

Don’t Dismiss God’s Plan

"For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are
speaking." —Hebrews 2:5 (ESV)

There’s a story about an airline pilot who decided to override the auto-navigation system
because he “knew a faster route.” Minutes later, they were headed in the wrong
direction and had to make an emergency reroute. Sometimes, our biggest mistakes
come from thinking we know better than the plan in place.

Hebrews 2:5 reminds us that the future world—the “world to come”—won’t be ruled by
angels, but by redeemed humanity under Christ. That’s God’s design. He didn’t plan for
heavenly beings to oversee His future kingdom—He planned for humans, restored
through Jesus, to rule with Him. That means your life has purpose, and your obedience
matters. Dismissing God's plan is more dangerous than you think—it’s rejecting your
very role in His future.

Reflection Questions:
1. Are you trying to write your own plan instead of submitting to God's?
2. How does knowing God has an eternal role for you shape the way you live
today?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, I trust Your plan even when I don’t understand it. Teach me to walk by faith, not
by control.

Don’t Dismiss God’s Plan

"…putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in
subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see
everything in subjection to him." —Hebrews 2:8 (ESV)

There’s a difference between what we see and what is true. A chessboard might look
chaotic to an amateur—but to the master, every piece is exactly where it should be.
Hebrews 2:8 reminds us that everything is under Jesus’ authority—even when it doesn’t
appear that way.

It’s easy to get discouraged when life looks like it’s out of control. The writer admits, “we
do not yet see everything” submitted to Jesus. But the key word is yet. That’s where
faith comes in. The truth is, Christ reigns. His sovereignty is complete. Even when
circumstances seem broken, Jesus is still building His kingdom. Pastor Jim reminded us
that God hasn’t lost control—He’s just not finished yet.

Reflection Questions:
1. What current situation feels out of control to you?
2. How does trusting Christ’s ultimate authority give you peace?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, even when I can’t see what You’re doing, I believe everything is under Your
control.

Don’t Doubt God’s Promise

"But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus,
crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death..." —Hebrews 2:9a
(ESV)

A boy once saw his favorite player injured during a game and cried, “We’ve lost!” His
father calmly replied, “Son, the season isn’t over—and he’ll be back.” That’s how we
often feel when we see suffering—we think it’s the end. But Hebrews 2:9 helps us see
more clearly: we see Jesus.

We see the One who stooped low, took our place, and bore our punishment. His
suffering wasn’t defeat—it was the path to glory. Because of the cross, He’s now
crowned with honor. And because He rose, we can trust every promise He’s made.
Jesus’ victory isn’t just a past event—it’s our future hope. When we see Him clearly, we
stop doubting and start trusting.

Reflection Questions:
1. What promises of God do you need to cling to right now?
2. How can you make space in your day to focus on Jesus rather than your fears?

Suggested Prayer:
Father, help me fix my eyes on Jesus, trusting His promises even when life feels
uncertain.