Deuteronomy 4:9. “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.”
DILIGENCE: faithful application to one’s work. The keeping of my soul takes diligence, of that there is no doubt. The keeping of my soul is by the effective response to my conscience. That will in turn lead me, and keep me in the path of GOD’S WILL. [De.4:9]
I am told to “diligently keep the commandments of the Lord.” It should go without saying, that His commandments are not suggestions. My convictions that the commandments of the Lord are GOD’S WORD will keep me from a casual attitude toward the scriptures of truth. [De.6:17]
I have been challenged to “keep thy precepts diligently.” Far be it from me to shrug any of these holy practices to one side. My conduct bears a clear testimony as to what I think of GOD’S WAYS. I must walk in such a way as to be able to be identified as one of His own. [Ps.119:4]
The inner man is known as “the heart.” “Keep thy heart with all diligence” implies that I have a serious responsibility here. This action will reflect the depth of my commitment. My commitment, in turn, will put on display my attitude towards GOD’S WORK. [Pro.4:23]
In taking heed to myself, I am not content to go on day after day with no thought to each issue of life or responsibility that I am given. I will earnestly look at each activity my heart and soul considers; then in carefulness I will act. God’s ways are the plans that He makes known to those who are near to Him. The acts are a general response to God’s will that are more superficial. I must keep all that my eyes have seen in the inner recesses of my heart. In that way I have them close at hand when the opportunity arises to speak to my family and grandchildren about those things that are in my soul. I am to be a diligent teacher to those who are closest to me; speaking of the things I have experienced of God, whenever the time is ripe [De.6:7]. I must be diligent in inquiry before making choices. Choices that I make, may affect others and it is my official duty to have considered everything carefully before passing a judgment [De.19:18]. In the busy affairs of temporal life, I am to be diligent; not slothful, but fervent. In this area of my life I also am reminded that I am God’s servant. All of my life is not my own. I am His [Rom.12:11]. As a worker in His vineyard, it is incumbent on me to be consistent and to be continually involved in those things that are eternal. I have been called to further His work. God forbid that I would ever “take it easy” when the time is so short [1Cor.7:29- 31]. The task of preaching the Word, is not one to be taken lightly. Nor should it be relegated to words spoken behind a desk to people who are a captive audience. It is my responsibility to use every means at my disposal to bring light and life to men and women around me [2Tim.4:1-5].
The special objects of my diligence are: the soul, the commands of the Lord, the heart, the graces that Peter tells me to add one upon the other; and the calling I have been given.
“O gracious God who has called me with a holy calling. I am called upon today to give “all diligence” to those graces I am to add to. It occurs to me that each one is an evidence of Christ-likeness. The great blessing that follows certainly makes it worth the effort to be diligent in this regard. To be fruitful and reproducing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is the highest ambition I could have. I am aware of my lack of ability but diligence is within my grasp. I am not being intentionally blind because I do want the rewards of diligence – that Thou will be glorified. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”