Diligence

Diligence

The Word of the Lord for BC this last year was:
“You can’t get there now, but what you do now will get you there.  Diligence.”

11 But we do [[a]strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end,
12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith ([b]by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.”  Hebrews 6:11-12

Spiritual diligence keeps us from becoming spiritually sluggish.  Diligence doesn’t pay off right now.  Diligence pays off in the future.

We’ve all had New Year’s resolutions…maybe it’s to eat healthier and work out every morning.  Your diligence to roll out of bed the first morning, go sweat and burn calories at the gym doesn’t cause you to inherit a great body and massive weight loss by the time you get home at dinner time.  {Wouldn’t that be nice?!}  It’s the diligence to get up day after day despite being tired, sore, not feeling well, and a lack of energy that inherits the reward of weight loss.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Our job? Faith. Diligence.  His job? Rewarder.

7 [Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness ([a]that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).
Hebrews 11:7 AMP

Noah was full of faith and diligence and continued day after day to do what the Lord instructed.  Because of this he inherited.

Staying spiritually diligent today causes us to inherit God’s promises in our future.  Let’s inherit ALL that God has in store for us! How? DILIGENCE.  What can you do today to be diligent?

Let’s build on last year and make sure to add “diligence” to this year of Honor!