250521 – Hebrew 2 – Pay Attention – International Church of Shanghai

Jesus Is Better

“Stay on this road for 541 miles,” my GPS announced in her monotone voice. We were driving from North Carolina to the southern tip of Florida. This meant that we were about to spend almost 10 hours on i95. I had a very important role on this road-trip, I was the co-pilot in the passenger seat. This meant that I had to play good music, keep the driver awake, and watch out for WaWa gas stations. (We really like those.)

Driving alongside never-ending fields with outdated billboards, I started to zone out. I was shocked out of my trance when I looked to my right to see a massive peach on the side of the interstate. No, I wasn’t dreaming. There is literally a 135-foot tall peach- shaped water tower in Gaﬀney, South Carolina. It was a silly-looking, bright orange beacon of joy on a relatively boring drive. “Peach!” I shouted to the passengers in the back. Everyone except the driver was glued to their phones, so they all missed the spectacle. They weren’t paying attention, so they missed something magnificent. (Okay, maybe not magnificent, but it was interesting.)

We do this all the time. We live on autopilot. Due to our distractions, we miss precious moments, opportunities to bless others, and giant peaches on the side of the road.

Hebrews 2:1 says, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” The author urges the Hebrews to focus on their faith, so that they don’t miss something amazing. “Paying careful attention” requires us to actively look for opportunities and experiences that bring us closer to God.

You’re on a journey. Don’t miss special moments that God has prepared for you. Look up and look out for them. Be intentional about your walk with Jesus. Put down the phone and pick up the Bible. Detach from your distractions and focus on what God has for you today.