As I was memorizing 1 Timothy 6:4 the Holy Spirit showed me several things. In context, the verse was referencing bondservants who despised their masters, then folks who did not consent to wholesome words.

Verse 4 says, “He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words…” Pride is the root, now catch what the fruit is. The verse goes on, “…from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions.”

Arguing, contentious, quarrelsome are the pride of self-defense. James 3:14 says, “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.” Verse 15 says it is earthly, sensual, and demonic. Verse 16 says, “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

Verse 18 says, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

It was God’s love that caused Him to create the world, to lay the foundation of the earth on nothing, and to form man in His own image for relationship. Everything we have comes from God’s love for us.

Our trials are impregnated with His love. What He allows is for our best good. Romans 8:28. Verse 29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” Our trials conform us to reflect His character to those around us.

Our trials test our heart to see, as David said in Psalm 51, “…any wicked way in me…” 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the genuineness of your faith…though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory…”

Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens…” The Greek word for chastens is to train up a child, educate, and discipline. Our trials display His love for us.

I woke up thinking about God and His love. Everything is born out of His love. I like to think about how He formed Adam out of the dust. What were His thoughts? Genesis 3:8 gives us a snapshot of God’s relationship with Adam and Eve.

It says, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” It was a familiar sound. They knew immediately it was the Lord. Think of the song “In The Garden.” The words speak of communion with the Creator. 

1 John 4:8-9 says, “…God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

In Ephesians 1 we find many ways of being ‘in’ Christ. Verse 7 says, “In Him we have redemption…” Through His love we have forgiveness of all our sins.

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.