Diligence

2 Peter 1:5-8
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Original Word: σπουδή
Transliteration: spoudé
Phonetic Spelling: (spoo-day')Short Definition: haste

Word Origin from speudó
Definition haste, diligence
NASB Word Usage diligence (4), earnestness (5), effort (1), hurry (2).
haste, diligence, forwardness
From speudo; "speed", i.e. (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness -- business, (earnest) care(-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.


DILIGENCE, n. [L., to love earnestly; to choose.]
1. Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.

My Notes : I've attached the meaning of the original Greek word and the definition. I think the thing that struck me the most is that diligence is not merely staying constant in working toward something, but rather doing it with haste. When we are truly diligent we are giving something due attention, with a sense of eagerness, we're in hurry! I think in our walks that diligence usually comes when we are especially hungry for Him or when we are walking through trying times. We need to be disciplined enough to stay in a state of "diligence" as it pertains to going after the things of the Lord.