March 26

GIVE DILIGENCE
by Ray Prinzing

"We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."                                                          (Hebrews 6:11-12).

People often exhort one another to show more "enthusiasm," and one day we discovered the meaning of this word also - to be inspired or possessed by the god.  While we have no desire to be motivated by the gods of this world, we would be INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT to move onward and upward into His fullness.  We would not be "slothful in business."  And note that the word "business" actually comes from the Greek word given elsewhere as diligence.  We would not be lazy, idle, motionless, in our walk with Him, but persevering to lay hold of that for which He has called us.

Of number one priority, our inspired action should cause us to "take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Joshua 22:5).  Diligent to keep, do, give obedience to the Word of the Lord.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."  (Proverbs 4:23).  Diligent watch over the inner core of our being,  "for out of the heart proceedeth..." (Matthews 15:19), either those things which will defile a man, or those things which shall bring life and peace. For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is it."  (Proverbs 23:7).

"Give diligence to make your calling and election sure."  (2 Peter 1:10). We do well to yield to the inworkings of His grace, and not allow ourselves to become sidetracked into the non-essentials which would divert our eyes from the goal.  He has gone to prepare a place, position, for us, and He is now preparing us for that place - that we might "rule and reign with Christ" in the ages to come.  thus we would "Study (be diligent) to shew ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  (2 Timothy 2:15).