For quite some time now we have been looking at the character of Jesus. We have seen how throughout His time here as a man on earth He displayed selflessness, love, humility, patience, and many other godly traits not because He wanted to be applauded but simply because that is His nature. Now, let's take a look at another aspect of His character that is not typically mentioned: Diligence.
According to the Oxford Universal Dictionary, diligence is “careful attention, industry, assiduity; unremitting application, persistent endeavour.” A diligent person is described as “assiduous, industrious, conscientious, thorough; not idle, not negligent, not lazy.”
Jesus showed immense diligence in His labors as a man on the earth. The bible records that, “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went throughout every city and village preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). We need to remember that this was over 2000 years ago. It was not in an era of express trains, rapid transit buses or even stage coaches. On foot, our blessed Lord went throughout the hot desert region fulfilling His ministry. In fact, the only time we are told He rode on a colt was in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:7). Oh, what a blessed conception of the diligence of our lowly Savior.
Even before His ministry began, He was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). He was not a lay-about who refused to work. He was diligent to learn the trade of the family from His father, Joseph. He was not sitting idly for the first thirty years of His life waiting for God’s appointed time for the beginning of His ministry. He had a mindset of diligence right from His childhood as He said, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49)
He was diligent in all things. He was very diligent in prayer. He prayed continually; it was His lifestyle. His prayer life wasn't lethargic by any means. In the gospel according to Mark, it was recorded that, “in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35). This is an important anecdote because it gives us a clear insight into our Lord's diligence, based on the fact that the morning that this verse refers to was the morning after a busy day teaching in the synagogue, casting out unclean spirits, healing Peter's mother in law, and a busy evening healing many who were sick with various diseases, and casting out many demons. He wasn’t lazy in prayer. He didn't neglect spending time with the Father while citing a busy schedule as an excuse. He woke up early to pray, He even prayed all night as recorded in Luke 6:12, "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Another example of how Jesus embodied diligence was when He met the Samaritan woman by the well. The bible records that He was exhausted and His disciples went into the city to get food. Jesus had the right to rest, to lay His head down and take a nap but He gave up that right to minister and bring salvation not only to the woman but also to the entire town. Jesus is the most diligent man that ever lived. He never complained or grumbled or procrastinated unnecessarily. When He delayed, it was for a good reason and for the glory of God like when He waited four days before He went to raise Lazarus from the dead. He always did whatever the Father wanted him to do at the right time, He wasn’t lazy.
Jesus ministry was a very demanding one. One of the most profound instances where His diligence is clearly evident is recorded in Mark 3:20-21. After staying up all night praying; and having being thronged at the sea side by the multitude that came from different places whom He healed, He went up into the mountain, calling and appointing His apostles, and instructing them what they should do. Then later that day, He came to a house in Capernaum, and a crowd formed again, so many people such that Jesus and His disciples could not even eat. When His own family heard that he wasn’t eating, wasn’t resting, they went to take custody of Him away from the crowd; for they were saying, “He is out of His mind.” They thought to themselves that He was exerting Himself too much and was going to hurt Himself. There were other times when He would be going one way and someone would run to Him asking him to come and heal a daughter/son/servant and He would turn and follow that person. He was like a doctor who was always on call. He worked tirelessly and diligently and God strengthened Him more and more.
Friends, let us examine ourselves. Are you an idle busybody? Are you indolent? Are you lazy about the tasks God has entrusted to you? What is keeping your from being diligent to the calling of God on your life? Are you putting in your best effort to the work God has provided you with? Are you lethargic in spiritual things? Are you slothful in the place of prayer? How diligent are you?
Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (Rom 12:11)
Oh Lord, transform us into your likeness, help us to be diligent like you!
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