Words have power.

Right now, focus on two.

Diligence. Perseverance.

This pair goes together.

To be diligent calls for listening to your conscience. That's conscientious. To be diligent is to be careful. The careful person avoids risks.

To be diligent is to persist. The persistent person does not give up. Persistence goes with perseverance...it's not giving up when doing something difficult.

Diligent perseverance describes the life of a believer in Jesus.

Hebrews 6:9-12 calls the one who seeks to walk with Jesus to a life of diligent perseverance...

There it is...that's it: diligent perseverance.

The person who walks with Jesus is careful in thoughts, words and actions. They are careful how they observe God's word. They persist in reading it. They persist in praying. They know the sinful human nature makes a walk with Jesus something that must be guarded. A walk with Jesus is difficult for a sinner. A sinner can easily become lazy. So, the person who walks with Jesus perseveres. Their strength for diligence and perseverance in a walk with God is found in Jesus...only Jesus.

The one who walks with Jesus has great confidence and eternal hope: "God is not unjust; He will not forget" the one who serves Him by serving others. The Bible is filled with those who lived before us who diligently persevered Noah, Moses, Abraham, Joseph and the uncountable others whose names we do not know ...these persevered...for Jesus. Their strength came from Jesus.

So, friend...today... live with Diligent Perseverance...be reading God's word...seek Him in prayer...serve Him with a glad heart.

Wait.

Have you been reading about diligence and perseverance with a little nagging thought in mind? Is that thought something like, “I am not diligent. I find it easy to give up. Perseverance is not my strong suit.” I think so too…that describes me.

We have a Perfect One who always diligent.

He NEVER gives up.

He never grows weary.

It’s Jesus.

We want diligence and perseverance.

Jesus gives strength for diligence and perseverance to live for Him. He WANTS us to seek Him, to live for Him. Ask Him. He is the same ...yesterday, today and forever.