“…not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;”  Romans 12:11
 

“Diligence.”  That’s an interesting word. The Greek word used for “diligence” means:  “earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything.”

It’s a word that we find often in God’s Word. We’re to “listen carefully (or “diligently listen’) to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight.”  Psalm 119:4 says, “You have ordained Your precepts, That we are to keep them diligently.”  Paul writes to Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed” (2 Timothy 2:15).  And Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.”

Peter, in the first chapter of his second letter, in verse 5-7, tells us: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.“

We can’t sit back and coast.  We can’t assume all is going to be “hunky dory,” or “whatever will be will be.”  There is great effort needed, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to move forward and grow in our faith in order to be used by God to serve Him. 

That’s why Paul, in today’s verse, tells us to “not be lagging behind (the word means slothful – being like sloth) in diligence, but rather, we are to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;“

God has a purpose for us, and He’s given us all we need to achieve it. We must therefore be diligent. Is there an area in your spiritual life that needs extra diligence today? Let’s pursue Christlikeness with careful attention and effort.
 
“Patience and diligence, like faith, removes mountains.”             – William Penn