Diligent

​The Kahiltna glacier feeds the broad Kahiltna River that in turn is joined by the clear running water of Peter’s Creek.  Where the fast-moving milky river and the rippling creek meet is a place where thousands of Silver Salmon leave their river highway from the Pacific Ocean to return home and spawn.  On the northwest side of the watery marriage high above in a birch tree is an eagle’ nest.  Eaglet’s cries pierce the valley as they screech for food.  

​Atop nearby trees majestic bald eagles survey the land and water.  With a graceful swoop the mother drops below to sink her talons in an unsuspecting salmon. With powerful flaps she ascends to her nest and attends her brood.  It is a grandiose site in the great frontier of Alaska.  One cannot help but be impressed by the diligence devoted eagles give in raising their young.  Seagulls whose flight patterns run too close to the nest risk attack.  No intruder goes unnoticed by the awe-inspiring Haliaeetus leucocephalus.   
 
Meditation
1 Timothy 4:14-16—Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.  Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.  Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
 
The dictionary defines diligence as “painstaking effort.” It costs something to be diligent.  How closely do you watch your life and what you believe? Just as eagles persevere in feeding and caring for themselves and their young, so we ought to be steadfast in nourishing and protecting our walk with God.  We hear little of diligence in a pleasure-oriented society because lust holds higher value than love.  Yet, the pathway to God was never meant to veer into rabbit trails of whim and compromise or fall into disrepair by neglect and irresponsibility.  Be diligent!  Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit and closely guard what He says. He will guide us to the One who above all is ever diligent.  
 
Inspiration
If God is diligent, surely we ought to be diligent in doing our duty to Him.  Think how patient and how diligent God has been with us!—Oswald Chambers in Not Knowing Where
 
©1999 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)