Devotions From the Heart: Losing What We Have

by Derek Gitsham

Losing What We Have

"Therefore we ought to give the more
earnest heed to the things which we have
heard, lest at any times we should let
them slip." Hebrews 2:1

In the Greek the words for “let them slip” are
literally translated “run out as from leaking
vessels.” So many are suffering this malady in
the Church due to this one reason not taking heed.
Another rendering reads, “less we should slip.”
How apt is that? If we do let the words that the
Lord is speaking to us not take a hold, we shall
be liable to slip.

Our minds and memories, because they have been
twisted by the corruption of our nature,
have to be diligently harnessed to lay hold of
what we are hearing and reading from God’s word.
We are told the birds of the air, in the parable
of the sower, (birds are types of demonic spirits)
sweep down upon the seed and steal it away, the
fowls of the air devouring it (Luke 8:5).

Hearing the word once is not enough for most
of us, we need to hear it again and again, our
memories and minds being so leaky. The work of
the enemy, if he cannot steal the word away, will
try and distract us and he will work hard at it
to obtain his purpose. The word fell by the way
side, some upon a rock, some among thorns.

All were places to be avoided if the word is to
be fruitful in our lives. The final place was
the good ground which Luke says is a man who in
a good and honest heart, having heard the word,
keeps it, and brings forth fruit with patience
(Luke 8:15).

The word “keep” in Greek is to keep is "to keep
in memory, possess, seize on, and take." A good
exercise for all of us is when we hear God’s
word and know it is for us, we need to say, and
“That’s mine Take it, seize it, snatch it out of
the air, and claim it for ourselves. So serious
is this word, to take heed, that failure to do so
could have terrible repercussions, as Hebrews
begins to unfold. God makes us serious as we
listen to His Word.