Fruitful Growth in the Faith – Diligence

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge (2 Peter 1:5)

In the Greek, diligence describes strenuously giving yourself to something, fully committing to an activity without concern for the cost, going to extravagant lengths to complete a goal. It was used in Greek literature to describe the extraordinary commitment of a citizen to his or her civic duties. In our day, diligence might call to mind an athletes sweat-producing efforts to strain toward a goal and become a champion. Diligence is what motivates sprinters to come around the bend toward the finish tape, exerting every muscle when it seems their bodies have nothing left to give.

When Peter urges us to give “all diligence” he does not teach salvation by works; he means we should make Christ and His kingdom our focus, putting all our efforts into running the race He has set before us (1 Cor. 9:24). Bishop J. C. Ryle wrote; “I would just as soon expect a farmer to prosper in his business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them until the harvest as to expect a believer to gain much holiness who has not been diligent about his Bible reading… his prayers, and… the use of his Sunday.

• How diligent are you when it comes to your spiritual growth?
• What motivates you to finish strong in things of God?

 Prayer: Father, I thank You for sending Your Son, to die for my sins, help me to be diligent in seeking You and to grow in faith, virtue, and knowledge. Amen!

Read: 2Peter 1:1-11

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