READ: PSALM 39
Rescue me from my rebellion, for even fools mock me when I rebel. (V. 8)
RT Phillips and Kris Kyle in their small group study, CORE, talk about how we slowly move away from Christ in imperceptible ways. They liken it to playing in the ocean waves and suddenly finding that you have drifted many yards from your initial entry point on the beach. The drift was undetected because of the current and wave action pushing you along the shoreline while you were frolicking in the surf. This same drifting action takes place in our spiritual lives as we are slowly pushed along by the forces of this world away from Christ centered living.
Living selfishly busy earthly lives, we begin to get caught up in the worldly currents and unceasing wave action of sin. We fail to correct our drifting by engaging in a litany of self-justifying rationalizations. You know how it goes–it’s alright to take a quick harmless look at that pornographic photo; it’s alright to have just one brief extra martial fling; it’s alright to occasionally stretch the truth to fulfill our wants and needs; it’s alright to ignore Christ’s teachings from time to time as he will forgive us in the end; and the list goes endlessly onward. At other times, the subtle drifting is associated with acts of good moral intention. We stive to honor our Christian based obligation to provide for our families. Yet, at times we over dedicate ourselves to work eroding the precious time we are given to spend with them. Our endeavors are based upon the desire to secure a lifestyle marked by no wants or needs rather than one providing a comfortable existence. Other times we desire positions of greater power and prestige to meet personal rather than familial needs. This drifting causes us to abandon our investment of love in those we hold dear, producing dysfunction and strife. In essence, what started out as noble and right, was caught in the drift of the unrelenting current and wave action generated by the artificial demands of this world.
The Psalmist writes in verse 9: “We are merely moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” We must guard against this meaningless rushing as it causes us to rebel against the one who loves us without ceasing–God. The result is unfilled lives of sadness and endless regret. Surviving in the sea of life requires constantly looking to shore to make sure we stay focused and in alignment with the lighthouse of our lives-Jesus Christ!
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
We are all subject to subtle drifting, but Christ is ready to take our hands and lead us back on His course for our life.
Dear Jesus, help me reconcile my life with your will to actively stop my faithless drifting.