Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.
2 Timothy 2:15-16 HCSB

Having just come through an election, we see that people are diligent when it comes to campaigning for the cause or the person that they support. They are not afraid to speak out and voice their opinions about amendments or proposals or candidates. I ask you this. Are you diligent where it really matters?

One day we will all stand before the judgment throne of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. We are told in Matthew 25:31-41 that when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with Him, He will sit on the throne of His glory. He will separate the nations as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right side and the goats on His left. He will bring the sheep to eternal glory with Him, but will tell the goats to depart from Him into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. Verse 46 says that the unrighteous will go into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

We must present ourselves as workers who are approved by the Lord. We must be unashamed to diligently follow Him and diligently serve Him. One day it will just come down to where we are going to spend eternity. The elections won’t matter, the problems of this old world won’t matter, the only thing that will matter is that we did the best we could do for Christ while we spent time here on planet earth. So, again, I ask you are you being diligent? Are you focusing on Christ and doing your best to avoid being distracted by the problems and issues of this world? Or are you falling hook, line and sinker for all these distractions? Are you finding yourself in useless conversation and arguments about how it should be and what people should be doing?

The only useful discussions are those that lead others to Christ. The discussions we have that encourage the lost to seek the Lord are the ones that truly matter. The discussions we have to lift others up when they are feeling down by letting them know that they are loved by God are those that are most important.

I want you to think about your speech and the discussions you have had in the last few days or last few weeks. Have they shown God’s love and kindness to others or have they shown your cold, hard heart? Romans 2:5 says that because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

In answer to my question, yes, we are all diligent. The question is what are we diligent about? Are we diligent at pleasing man and fitting in? Are we diligent at acquiring wealth and filling our lives with stuff? Are we diligent about tearing others down? Remember one day you will be judged for these things.

Our scripture passage today tells us that the one thing that we must be diligent in doing is presenting ourselves to God as a worker who is unashamed. When we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and study His Word, we can speak His love and His life to others. We have no need to be ashamed or afraid when we stand before Him as He sits on His throne. When we do these things we help others to see their need for Him in their lives.

When we enter into empty arguments and irreverent speech we are doing the work of the devil because we are promoting godlessness. Be mindful to bring glory, honor and praise to your Lord and Savior with every word that comes out of your mouth and everything that you do.

As our society becomes more and more accepting of the devil’s schemes, we have a responsibility as Christians to be diligent in speaking God’s truth and showing God’s love to those around us. I pray that today you are being diligent about spreading God’s love and His Word and about promoting godliness.

Have a great day!