(picture from deep in the woods of Cullowhee Forest, NC)
by Tammy Phillips
October 10, 2021
“Beloved, looking forward to these things. Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation… ” (2 Peter 3:14-15 NKJV)
Life is not easy. As Paul says, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed–“ (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV). Life keeps coming. Life keeps punching , but God always gives an encouraging word to help us keep going and punch back.
We detoured away from Revelation and through 2 Peter for the last several days because of one encouraging word I heard from the Lord, “DILIGENT.” I went on a treasure hunt through God’s word to see what He had to say.
- Be diligent
- Be forward
- Make constant in effort
- Be prompt
- Be earnest
- Be steadfast
- Be speedy
- Make haste
- Study
- Labor
A new heaven and a new earth are coming. The day of the Lord is coming. Jesus is coming. Peter tells us to BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT! Wait for it. Expect it! Watch for it. This is an active role not passive nor a delayed reaction. He encourages us to be diligent in four things:
- To be found by Him in peace.
In peace is a place! When the Lord comes again, we are to have been diligent in staying in the peace place with God, man, and ourselves through Jesus Christ. - To be found by Him without spot.
We do not need to be found in the wrong spot or with spot. We need to be found pressing into Christ in spotless purity and absolute perfection.It is only in Him that we can be found complete. This is not something we do, but whose we are. I see this as dealing with sin immediately.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence.” (Proverbs 4:23)
- To be found by blameless without fault; innocent; guiltless; not meriting censure. We can only be found blameless in Him and by diligently abiding In Him and doing what He asks.
- In considering that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.
I pray every second that the Lord tarries another soul is added to His kingdom. He delayed His return for you and me. I pray He defers His coming until every member of my family, my friends, and everyone in this world come to Jesus by working out their salvation and turning to Him. He waited on us to choose Him the least we could do is heed His words and watch and wait for Him. His longsuffering with humanity is salvation to us all.
I enCOURAGE you, brothers, and sisters, “give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:5) You could affect some one’s eternity. Be diligent in all things. My definition of diligence would be to be: KEEP ON KEEPING ON. DON’T STOP AND DON’T GIVE UP! Live like a “last days” Christian.
“Never expect to be found at that day of God in peace, if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work that is given us to do. It is only the diligent Christian who will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord. Our Lord will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to Him; and would you have Him find you idle?” — Matthew Henry
Complete in Him 