Daily Service: Diligently

Posted on September 29, 2021 by brucesbiblepage

Updated for Volume 13

Seek the Lord and his blessings diligently

dil′i·gent·ly adv.

Synonyms: diligent, industrious, conscientious, assiduous, sedulous
These adjectives suggest steady attention and effort that is undertaken to accomplish something. Diligent connotes steady, meticulous attention to an ongoing job or task: “[They] have won international renown for their diligent efforts to track down software bugs” (Hiawatha Bray).
Industrious implies energetic and productive application, often to a large or important endeavor: “Madison’s and Jefferson’s vision of an agrarian republic made up largely of industrious farmers who marketed their burgeoning surpluses abroad” (Drew R. McCoy).
Conscientious carries with it the implication of energetic attentiveness springing from dutifulness or a sense of responsibility: “a studious, conscientious public servant authentically dedicated to improving the welfare of his fellow human beings” (Randall Bennett Woods).
Assiduous and the less common sedulous emphasize untiring exertion and an earnestness of purpose: “How do Olympians acquire [talent]? Were they born with it, or did they develop it through assiduous practice?” (Steve Olson).“the sedulous pursuit of legal and moral principles” (Ernest van den Haag).

Mark 5:21-34 (ESV) And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease.”