"Not lagging behind in diligence..."
(Romans 12:11)
Written by Mrs. Rebekah E.
As we skim through Romans chapter twelve we are reminded of those precious verses on dedication in verses one and two. Then as we look further, we see all these character qualities that the Lord expects of us as Christians. One of these qualities is "diligence." We cannot have godly diligence without a dedicated, devoted heart to the Lord! The quality of diligence comes out of a heart and life that is committed to "presenting [our] bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God... and transformed by the renewing of [our] mind, so that [we] may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
To be diligent we must first have a plan—a list of what needs to be done. We are expected to have a plan and to be diligent in carrying out that plan according to how the Lord directs our lives. "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). We also need to be flexible in the hands of the Lord, as He may see fit to change our plans.
We are accountable to God for what we do with our lives and our time. "So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). "Make the most of you time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).
DILIGENCE—in our walk with the Lord
DILIGENCE—in our planning and prioritizing
DILIGENCE—in the use of our time
DILIGENCE—in the way we accomplish every task that the Lord places in our hands
whether big (teaching a Sunday School class) or small (cleaning out the litter box)
DILIGENT—in telling others of Christ
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Do all with a spirit of diligence, fervent in spirit in service to the Lord for His honor and glory!
Scriptural Examples of Diligence
Rebekah--diligent in drawing water for her family
diligent and eager in drawing water for a stranger and his camels
diligent in preparing to travel with Abraham's servant to the unknown and become Isaac's wife (Genesis 24)
Rahab--diligent in protecting the Israelite spies (Joshua 6)
Ruth--diligent in following Naomi to a foreign land
diligent in her devotion to Naomi's God
diligent in gleaning wheat in the heat of the day and doing Naomi's bidding (Ruth)
Abigail--diligent in making peace with David and preparing food for all his followers (I Samuel 25)
Widow of Zarephath--diligent in providing food for Elijah and following his wishes to feed him first when there was so little food left (I Kings 17)
Dorcas--diligent in making clothing for others (Acts 9)
Lydia--diligent in opening her heart to the things of the Lord and providing hospitality for Paul (Acts 16)
Mary the mother of John Mark--diligent in opening her home for prayer for Peter in prison and diligence in praying (Acts 12)
The Woman with the issue of blood--diligent in finding Jesus to heal her just by the touch of His garment in a crowd (Mark 5)
the Syrophoenician Woman--diligent in obtaining healing for her daughter (Mark 7)
Mary sister of Lazarus--diligent in her devotion to Christ and giving her all (John 12)
the Widow at the Temple--diligent in giving all she had in the offering (Mark 12)
"He that is faithful in that which is least if faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). May we be diligent with the little everyday things of life so God can entrust us with bigger responsibilities to diligently accomplish for HIS GLORY!
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