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Diligence - Seek Me Until You Find Me.

OldTreeGuyMar 6, 2020, 1:01:49 PM

What does it mean to be truly diligent? Now that our attention spans have dropped to zero, how often are we diligent about growing our faith?

I’m part of a men’s bible study. At 7 am, on a Monday morning (who’s idea was that?) eight “older” men gather. I’m amazed when all of us are there on a cold, snowy, dark morning - no one is required to come, but they all do.

We see how important diligence is throughout the Bible. And how it becomes part of everyone’s faith journey.

Proverbs 8:17–18

[17] I love those who love me,

and those who seek me diligently find me.

[18] Riches and honor are with me,

enduring wealth and righteousness. [1] (ESV)

Throughout the Bible, diligence is respected and rewarded. There is no better example than Abraham in the Old Testament. All of the things that God spoke to him about and promised him, and he was already 99 years old!

I do love this scene from Genesis as well:

Genesis 17:17

[17] Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” (ESV)

Yet Abraham’s faith and diligence pointed towards God. All the miracles and strangers showing up at his tent did not shake his faith.

But what does our diligent faith look like? To us, and to God?

> Do we push our journaling aside for a quick YouTube fix?

> Was it just a little too much effort to get up and get to church last Sunday?

> Did reading my child’s Bible story get replaced with ten extra minutes of “screen time?”

> Did inviting our new next-door neighbor over for a cup of coffee get postponed for another week?

Each day we make all kinds of choices. What are mine going to be today? How will I answer the question: What did I do today to be diligent in my faith?

Luke 15:8–10

The Parable of the Lost Coin

[8] “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? [9] And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ [10] Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (ESV)

Paraphrasing Abigail Adams:

~~Learning~~ Faith is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence. -- Abigail Adams

My action plan:

Before I journal I stop, close my eyes, and for a few moments push it ALL away - the past, the future. And focus only on the silence.

This week, I do that one more thing to increase my faith. An extra Bible chapter; 15 minutes early to church for prayer; 30 minutes of journaling each day; A meal prayer at every meal.

My prayer:

Joyful Lord, please forgive all of the times that I wander away from You. Guide me towards You, step-by-step. I am your lost coin Lord. I rejoice that You find me every day. Today I will help you gather other lost coins.

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[1] https://www.esv.org/Proverbs+8/

Photography Credits:

Seeking

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

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