Drifting Apart

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:36-46

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matt. 26:41 NLT)

Maintaining a close relationship requires a lot of effort by both parties. Such factors as time, distance, circumstances, age, work, and interests play a large part in causing people to drift apart.

     A number of years ago a couple from England came to visit America and stayed with us at our bed and breakfast in Hermann, Mo. We established a close friendship and began communicating back and forth through the wonderful medium of e-mail. Over the course of time we visited their home in England and received a guided tour throughout the countryside around Portsmouth. They, in turn, came back to the States and we gave them a tour of Colorado. Although we still write to each other on occasion and send cards on special occasions, it is not the same as talking to one another face to face.

     We have found that without regular contact it is possible to drift apart even with family members. When our daughter was a stay-at-home mom we could get together for lunch and spend time together sharing common interests, but now that she is a working mom those times of togetherness are few and far between.

     The same thing can happen in our spiritual lives. It is not difficult to lose contact with the Lord. All it takes is absenteeism from the house of God for a few weeks, neglect of daily Bible reading, or lack of a consistent prayer time and our fellowship suffers. We begin to drift apart from the Lord. Our first reaction is that God has moved away from us, but just the opposite is true—we have drifted apart from Him.

     I remember a story about a man and wife who sat together on the front seat of the car. Those were the days when cars had bench seats both in the front and rear. The wife complained, “You aren’t sitting close to me anymore.” The husband replied, “I am still sitting behind the wheel where I always sat, it isn’t me that has moved.”

     We have the tendency to do the same thing with God. We accuse him of drifting away from us when all the time we are the one who are doing the drifting. The Lord says, “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is the one behind the wheel—we are the ones who are drifting.

     Take stock! Are you having lunch with the Lord and his word? Are you talking to him in prayer? Being faithful in these two areas will keep you from drifting apart.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me keep a close relationship with you through your word and prayer.