Memorise: The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. Proverbs 21:5
Read: Proverbs 6:6-11 (KJV)
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 24:17-26:13, Psalms 135
AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
1. Diligence can be defined as conscientious hard work and perseverance, particularly with regards to your relationship with God.
2. The Bible presents diligence in a highly favourable manner, which clearly shows that God loves hardworking people but hates the lazy ones.
3. When He looks for people to use for assignments, He chooses hardworking people.
4. Diligence results in a rich harvest and links you up with the high and mighty in the society.
5. Similarly, you need to use the temperament that God gave you to serve Him, for example, if you are an extrovert, God wants you to use that extroverted nature to reach out to people, go from place to place speaking for God and leading souls to Christ.
6. If you were extroverted before you were saved but thereafter you became introverted and hardly speak with anyone, you are getting something wrong.
7. One reason God saved you was because of your extroverted nature which He expects you to use for the increase of His Kingdom.
8. Are you adequately engaging your temperaments? Are you diligently handing the Kingdom business?
SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS
Diligence in the work of God brings man to a position of mercy such that he is set among princes. It brings one from the dung hill to the palace. Prov 22:29 says “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
There is so much blessing for the diligent. Our Lord Jesus is a perfect example of a diligent one. He took all the pains in because of His diligence to the father’s call. Before His arrest He prayed to the father in Luke 22:42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” This shows that diligence is not easily attained until we submit to God’s will totally then we can be helped to be diligent. In Philippians 2:5-16 we were admonished by Paul to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and that we should do all things without complaining and disputing. This scripture also showed us how Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death and this in turn earned Him a name above every name, for things in heaven on earth and underneath the earth to bow to and confess His Lordship. The Lord will help us to be diligent in our work with Him and not only to will but also to do for His good pleasure in Jesus’ name.
Prayer point
Father, please let my work bring maximum benefit to the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name.
HYMN
1. O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
be thou forever near me,
my Master and my friend.
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my guide.
2. O let me feel thee near me!
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but Jesus, draw thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
3. O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will.
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
thou guardian of my soul.
4. O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee
that where thou art in glory
there shall thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend.
RECENT COMMENTS
Joesphine Ehigie
TJ