For this very reason, applying your diligence to the divine promises, make every effort in exercising your faith. 2 Peter 1:5 AMP
A couple weeks ago I sent out a writing on entering into God’s rest. God’s place of rest is a place that I wish everyone reading this could dwell, unfortunately most people do not dwell there, many haven’t even visited the place of rest that God speaks of.
Many in the body of Christ have as much doubt and unbelief as they have faith, this should not be so. So, then, how do we enter into the rest of God. 2 Peter 1:5, gives us some insight into that.
2 Peter 1:5 says; But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge.
After I had written the teaching on rest, a friend responded with this scripture and how it related to entering into the rest of God.
Over the weekend, I studied this scripture and found some wonderful insight that I want to share with you today.
Diligence is defined as; work that is characterized by steady, earnest and energetic effort. In the Strong’s Concordance, the biblical meaning is; to desire earnestly, and to strive earnestly for.
If we are going to enter into the rest of God AND abide there, it will take diligence. We must desire earnestly to dwell in the rest of God, we must strive for it with all our might and we must make a steady and energetic effort to get them and remain there. That is what the scripture says ‘labor’ to enter into the rest. It does take work, it is not automatic. It will absolutely require diligence.
Diligence in what? In the word of God, in building our faith, in removing all doubt and unbelief…and the key to that is found in 2 Peter 1:5 as well.
As I continued to study this scripture and the word ‘diligence’ I was pleasantly surprised to find the root word of diligence to be POUS. This word creates a picture of a disciple sitting at the feet of his teacher.
Oh, don’t you just love that! The Bible says we must apply all diligence and to do that we must sit at the feet of our Teacher, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I am reminded of Luke 10:42, you may remember the story. Jesus was visiting Martha and Mary, Martha was busy getting everything ready for Jesus and she was upset because Mary wasn’t helping her. Mary only had one thing on her mind, Jesus! She was seated at His feet and would not leave. What was Jesus’ response to Martha’s frustration?
Luke 10:42 says; Martha, Martha, the Lord replied, you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.
Only one thing is necessary; sitting at the feet of Jesus. Yes, it takes diligence to enter into the rest of God. Yes, it will take all your effort to do so, but when it comes down to the root of the issue, only one thing is necessary, being diligent to sit at His feet and learn from Him. That, my friend, is something we can all do.
Prayer for today: Father, teach me to lay aside everything else and become diligent to sit at the feet of my Teacher, to learn from Him, to walk like Him, to talk like Him and to enter into His rest. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.
