In Psalm 8:3-4 David posed a question. It says, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

We are created in His image for relationship. Genesis 1:26. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that He placed eternity in the heart of everyone. We are created to glorify the Lord. Isaiah 43:7. When we rely on the Lord, His power in us is able to do far over and above what we can even ask or think. Ephesians 3:20.

Yet, here is a word of caution. Psalm 78:41 says, “Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” How do we limit the Lord in our own lives? Anything we do in our own strength is independent of Him. John 15:5 ~ without Him we are nothing.

I want to bring another question before you. Job 38:4 says, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Verse 16 says, “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of its depth?” Verse 22 says, “Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail?”

In the end Job had to confess something that we all need to confess. Job 42:3 says, “…I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” Verse 5 says, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.”

Job 11:7 is written on a card and tacked to my refrigerator. It says, “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?”

Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Do you pick up on the spirit of diligence?

Verse 11 says, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.” Think of Paul as one we can imitate. 2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

I love his wording in Philippians 3:13. It says, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Paul didn’t get stuck in the past.

His wording in verse 14 typifies his character quality of endurance because of a diligent spirit. It says, “I press toward the goal…”

I have been memorizing Hebrews 6. As I came to verse 12 I had a visual. It says, “That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Back in 1986 we were on a short term mission trip in Costa Rica. I saw my first sloth. We stood there and watched it move imperceptibly. Which would you rather imitate, one who is diligent or one who is sluggish?

Diligence is a character quality of one who is able to endure no matter what the circumstance is. We require diligence with our thoughts. We will not endure successfully if we allow our mind to wander. We have to bring it back to focus on the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…” Our circumstances are temporary ~ the Lord remains the same eternally.

Hosea 10:12 says that it is time to break up your fallow ground. “…till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” Our hidden sin blocks intimate communion with the Lord, which is His desire for us. 

I love Psalm 25:14 in the Amplified. It says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.”

Proverbs 3:32 Amplified says that the perverse, those who oppose God’s way, are an abomination to Him. Yet, “…His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the (uncompromisingly) righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).”

Our position in Christ is righteousness. Yet, when we hide sin in our heart, we block the benefits of His righteousness. Psalm 37:23 says that He delights in ordering our steps. We block that experience of His delight when we refuse to acknowledge our sin to Him.

Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Joshua 1:8 says that as we read God’s word we are to observe to do it. What blocks our communication with the Lord? Hidden sin.

1 John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 2:4 says, “He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Notice that both of the above verses use the word ‘say’ but the actions display the fallow ground of the heart. Are your words and actions the same? We are called to be diligent stewards over our hearts. When we neglect that call, we bear only weed seeds.

Our goal? 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

I hope this visual will help you see how every believer stands under His waterfall of grace. Romans 5:2 is our position in Christ. However pride will keep us from experiencing it.