Sunday, April 23, 2017

A Need of Diligence or Persistance

You have probably figured out by now that I like to do word studies.  I pick a word and then bring all the texts together that mean the same as the word I want to study. It brings the verses together and make a lot of meaning to me.  I hope you enjoy and of course you know that you can do the same.  It is very rewarding for me.

Diligence means constant and earnest effort, thoroughness, steady, and energetic effort.  I think this describes it quite well.  As we study these verses, we can replace the word diligence with any one of these words and it will probably mean the same.

Proverbs 13:4  "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."

Proverbs 10:4  "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."

Galatians 6:9  "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Proverbs 12:24  "The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor."

2 Peter 3:14  "Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without pot or blemish, and at peace."

2 Peter 1:10  "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."
     You may want to read the first 10 or so chapters of 2 Peter 1 and see what these qualities are.  It is very good reading.

Proverbs 12:27 (last part) "Diligence is a man's precious possession."

2 Peter 1:2-4  "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious  promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Verse 5-7  "But also for this very reason give all diligence to add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (charity meaning love) (Then go back up to 2 Peter 1:10 and finish the complete thought.

I hope you can go over this and over again until it penetrates deep into your heart.  It is so amazing what these verses are saying.  I have called this chapter, 'Peter's ladder' because it gives us a list of  things to give diligence to, to make sure our calling and election is sure and also so that we don't have to fall or keep falling.  We can have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ who has called us to glory and virtue.  We may often have to fall at the feet of Jesus in repentance and contrition but He forgives and picks us up and we are on our way again.  There is always hope no matter how bad we have fallen, and we have a very forgiving and loving God that is looking out for us every step of the way.  Have faith in God.  Grandma Joan

PS  Psalm 37:23,24  "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His ways, though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His right hand."A precious promise.

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