Daniel 3:18

Perhaps the most daunting invitation in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount was given in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Christ had spent the previous verses teaching the beatitudes, step-by-step instruction to become as He is. Christ’s invitation to not only come unto Him but also to become like Him is the basis of Christianity.

While studying Christ’s life and personal characteristics, I have noticed one that seems to be different than the others on the list. The following is a brief (and incomplete) list of Christ’s attributes. Which of these things is not like the others?
• Faith
• Hope
• Charity
• Virtue
• Knowledge
• Patience
• Humility
• Diligence

I believe that diligence has some very unique aspects when compared to the other attributes, specifically the development of diligence. The other characteristics represent spiritual gifts given unto man from God. These gifts are bestowed “precept upon precept, line upon line…here a little, and there a little” (Isa. 28:10).

I would love to wake up on the morning of significant trials and say to myself, “Today is going to be a difficult day. I will have the patience of Job.” Or to begin a week with the decision to exercise the virtue of Joseph of Egypt.

Unfortunately, these attributes need to be developed drop by drop. As with the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13), these qualities cannot be summoned in a moment of need, but they must be diligently prepared in a time of plenty for times of famine. Attributes such as faith are also dependent upon God’s desires and plans. It is possible (probable) that I never reach the hope of Paul.

Diligence however is different. Diligence is not a gift from God. Diligence is a decision, one that each of us makes every day. I may not be able to simply decide to exercise Christ-like faith in a time of need. But who’s to stop me from working through it with Christ-like diligence? This sudden difference has made diligence my favorite Christ-like attribute. I am the owner and author of my diligence. It depends on nobody else, only me.

This same fact also makes diligence a prerequisite to any of the other aforementioned qualities. In order to develop knowledge, one must diligently study. I see diligence in our activities as a sign to God that we desire His blessings and spiritual gifts. Just as wisdom is applied knowledge, I would define diligence as applied faith.

In my mind, there are two types of diligence. The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego highlights these differences. Babylon’s king, Nebuchadnezzar, had created an image of gold, 90 feet in the image of a man. Such a spectacle must have rivaled that of the Hanging Gardens. During the day, a song would be played throughout the kingdom. Upon hearing the song, one was instructed to “fall down and worship the golden image” or “be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace” (Dan. 3:5-6).

When word spread that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego would not worship the image, they were brought before Nebuchadnezzar. One can only imagine the intimidation. They were aware of the law. They were aware of the consequences. They must have known that at one snap of the fingers, the king could have them slaughtered.

The account teaches that Nebuchadnezzar, “in his rage” (Dan. 3:13), asked the three if what he had heard was true. He wanted them to tell him, in their shackles, that they refused to bow before the work of his hands. Before allowing them to answer, he reminded them that “if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Dan. 3:15).

I imagine Nebuchadnezzar’s last question was very threatening, surrounded by armed guards in a huge palace it’s almost as if the king was challenging the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Hundreds of years earlier, the Pharaoh asked Moses the same question in a similar situation, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2).

The young mens' answer highlights the two degrees of diligence, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king” (Dan. 3:17).

I call this sunshine diligence. The three will diligently follow what they know to be right provided that the Lord comes through and makes everything turn out the way they want it to. Sure, I’ll go do it, as long as it’s sunny and warm. It comes down to doing what is right because it is easy. Sunshine diligence is the easiest form of diligence and therefore results in the lowest caliber of the Lord’s blessings.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had a much deeper form of diligence. They were willing to do what was right no matter the weather, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Dan. 3:18).

"But if not..." Even if it were that the Lord would have all three suffer the pains of death by fire, they had already decided to be diligent. I call this true form of diligence rainy day diligence. It’s doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. This is no easy task, but as mentioned earlier, it is our choice.

When the three refused to bow before the image, Nebuchadnezzar kept his promise and the three were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. The Lord however had other plans for Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and sent his angel to protect them (Dan. 3:24). Even though the Lord decided to spare their lives, the three were willing to act no matter what the consequences were.

There has been no other point in my life where I was able to learn more about and exercise diligence than my missionary service in Mexico. And it would be impossible for me to write about diligence without mentioning my missionary backpack.

About six months into my service, my backpack broke. I needed a bag, but did not want a new one. I remembered seeing pictures as a child of my father’s mission and his backpack. That’s what I wanted, a bag with history. A few letters and a package later and that bag was in Mexico. The bag now has nearly four years of faithful missionary service, and it wears it.
It’s been through the jungles of Guatemala, up and down the mountains of Acapulco and the streets of Mexico City. The bag is old and the color has long since faded; it’s been stitched, taped and even stapled, and it even has a strange smell, but it was there every day, rain or shine. And that’s what diligence is all about.

Matthew 6:21

I’ve always been intrigued by the Lord’s use of imagery. For me, scriptures using the heart as a symbol are particularly fascinating. The heart can take on so many different meanings. I have a very limited understanding of biology, but I do know the heart is central to the health of the body. Likewise, the location of the heart is central to the spirit’s health.

In the spiritual sense, I often wonder where exactly my heart is. I have seen countless examples of the blessings and spiritual power granted those who have yielded their entire hearts unto God. I remember once analyzing their lives to learn how they had done it. It seemed so difficult to me. I don’t tell my heart when to beat or when to race; it works on its own. How then can I change something I cannot control? I wanted something tangible that I could change, but I could not find it.

Eventually, I found the answer in the book of Matthew, sixth chapter, 21 verse: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I was surprised when I realized Christ had taught that our treasures determine where our hearts are, not the other way around. If I wanted to change my heart, I needed to change my treasure.

The promise to those who lay up treasures in heaven is significant, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

C.S. Lewis also explained this relationship between our hearts and our treasures in Mere Christianity: “Christ says, ‘Give Me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked-the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.’”

This was the secret. The people I had been observing had all made major changes to their treasures. They had done more than just make convenient alterations to align their lives with Christ’s teachings. Many had made enormous sacrifices, but each was better and happier for having made them. In fact, once surrendering their hearts to the Lord, they had actually become more free, making this “the only surrender which is also a victory” (Maxwell, Plow in Hope).

Success is not the product of one taking fewer falls; it is the result of constantly picking oneself up. It seems counter intuitive and could not happen at a less opportune time, but when we fall, we must learn to “rend [our] heart, and not [our] garments” (Joel 2:13).

Judges 7:7

I thought today would be a good day to reflect upon one of my favorite miracles of the Old Testament, the army of Gideon and the Midianites. In all honesty, few passages of scriptures have motivated me to greater good than those of the seventh chapter in Judges.

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites began a downward spiral of disobedience and idolatry. The tribes grew increasingly distant without Joshua’s uniting leadership. In many tribes, Baal replaced Jehovah as the people grew further and further from God. As a result of their disobedience, they fell into the hands of the Midianites. Although the Israelites did not live in bondage as they once had in Egypt, the Midianites would frequent their farms “as grasshoppers” (Judg. 6:5) carrying away the Israelite’s grain and livestock.

The situation eventually led to the Israelites remembering the story their parents must have told them of a man named Moses and the saving powers of Jehovah. The situation became so unbearable that many of the Israelites would hide their food from the Midianites to be able to provide for themselves and their families (Judg. 6:11). Showing His mercy, the LORD raised up a prophet from amongst the people, Gideon.

An army was raised and Gideon found himself with 32,000 soldiers to battle against the Midianites and Amalekites who were “like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude” (Judg. 7:12). Not only were they outnumbered, but their enemies had better technology. They had discovered how to use camels in battle. Surely, the Midianite army was a very intimidating sight.

As Gideon looked over the valley at his foe, the LORD told him, “The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me” (Judg. 7:2).

The LORD then commanded that the soldiers who were fearful to return to their homes (Judg. 7:3). The soldiers had seen the same thing as their captain and 22,000 returned home, leaving Gideon with 10,000, not even one third of his original army. Nonetheless, he probably reasoned that those who had left were his poorest fighters. At least the LORD had left him with the cream of the crop.

As they prepared to do battle, the LORD once again visited Gideon saying, “The people are yet too many” (Judg. 7:4). The LORD had previously shown Gideon a sign to prove He was with him (Judg. 6:17-21) and Gideon was willing to do as the LORD commanded.

This time however, the separation of the soldiers would not be as intuitive, “Bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there… So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink” (Judg. 7:4-5).

Gideon obeyed and separated the 9,700 who kneeled from the 300 who lapped; probably hoping the LORD would send the 300 home and leave him with the 9,700. The LORD however, had other plans and commanded the 9,700 to be sent home. Gideon did not even flinch as he watched 97 percent of his army march home, many of which must have been amongst his finest fighters. The LORD had left him with less than 1 percent of the army he had left with.

Nonetheless, with great faith and a divine strategy, the Israelites attacked and destroyed the Midianites (Judg. 7:19-25). Three hundred soldiers. And against an army as numerous as “the sands of the sea;” what a miracle. It truly stands as a testament that no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. If the LORD needs something done, He will get it done. It really does not matter much if He has 32,000 or 300 on His side.

I’ve often wondered what distinguished the Gideon’s 300. Most importantly, had I been one of the original 32,000, where would I have ended up? Would I have participated in the miracle, side by side with Gideon? Would I have watched from the camp with the 9,700 as the LORD delivered the Midianites? Or would I have been at home with the other 22,000, anxiously awaiting the army’s return, only hearing of the LORD’s greatness?

The first test was simple. It was a test of trust and faith. Do you believe the LORD will deliver? Do you trust in His almighty hand? Remember though, this question was not asked when the army was safely in their city. It was posed as they overlooked the seemingly limitless foe. Would I have remembered the Red Sea? Would I have trusted?

The second test was different. While the first was internal, the test at the water was an outward expression, a physical action. I believe that this test was designed to see who was able to act with heart, might, mind and strength; whose faith (tested prior) would translate into action.

Once the LORD had selected His soldiers, the battle did not take long. The outcome of the battle was never in question. The question was who would participate. I have experienced the battle from all three perspectives. I have been on the front lines, blessed to fight alongside those of amazing strength and faith. I have also found myself watching the battle from the hilltop, and unfortunately, I have spent my share of battles back at my tent only to hear of the remarkable power of the Savior.

Like any good soldier, I prefer the front lines and hope to find myself there against the latter-day Midianites. No matter the number with me; no matter the number against me.

1 Samuel 17:40

In 2002, the Anaheim Angels were predicted to finish in third place in the AL West. The first 20 games of the year went as the analysts had planned as the Angels sputtered to a 6-14 record. The following 142 games saw the Angels finish with a 99 win season, at the time, the best ever by the southern California franchise, and good enough to send the team to the playoffs.

Nobody expected much from the Angels. The team’s shortstop and leadoff man, David Eckstein, was 5’7” and 175 pounds soaking wet. Their playoff experience was nearly nonexistent, and their first opponents were the historic New York Yankees. After a game one loss, the Angels won three straight and advanced to the ALCS where they defeated the Minnesota Twins four games to one, setting up an all California World Series with the San Francisco Giants. The northern California group was appropriately named as their lineup featured the current all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, 6’2” 240 pounds. Seven games later, the Angels had claimed their first World Series title and comparisons began to be made to another team led by a small David who also bested a Giant.

This David was the eighth son of Jesse, and nobody expected much of him either. When Samuel visited with Jesse’s sons to find the next king of Israel, David was not even called in to meet him. In fact, Samuel would have been content to anoint David’s oldest brother, Eliab, as the next heir to the throne. That is, of course, until the Lord told him, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

Even after being chosen to lead Israel, he was still not invited to join Saul as a member of the Israelite army. Instead, he went about his daily activities as a shepherd. Such a profession hardly seemed fitting for Israel’s future king, but the lessons learned and experiences had amongst a few sheep played an important role in David’s future. He was finally able to see the army when his father asked him to run some food over to his three older brothers and make sure they were all accounted for. It was then when David first saw Goliath.

Convincing Saul to let him do battle with the Philistine’s giant was not an easy task. David, however, did have some related work experience on his resume. While guarding the family sheep, he had killed a bear and a lion. Aside from this, the countless hours in the field were likely full of target practice with his weapon of choice, the sling. Nonetheless, it wasn’t until David told Saul “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:37) that his request was permitted.

Saul however, was taking no chances and dressed David in his best armor, equipping him with his best sword. David’s remark is interesting, “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them” (1 Sam. 17:39). He then rid himself of the armor, grabbed his sling and shepherd’s bag and went to face Goliath. There was however, one more stop that David made. A stop that is often overlooked.

“And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:40).

Before the battlefield, David went to a brook, a place where he knew he could collect stones. The stones had to be perfect. He had seen Goliath and knew what he had signed up for. The stones needed to be round and the weight had to be evenly distributed, anything less would not fly straight and could be the difference between life and death. What catches my attention above all else is that he collected not one, but five stones. His statement to Saul demonstrated his faith in the saving power of the Lord, so it could not be that he doubted the Lord’s ability to help him slay the giant. Why would he then need five stones? It must be something else.

I like to believe that although he knew he would be helped, he was wise enough to act like everything depended on him, while simultaneously trusting completely in the Lord. His trust in the Lord was manifest when he met Goliath on the battlefield, “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Sam. 17:46-47 emphasis added).

Perhaps life’s greatest challenge is going to battle without Saul’s armor and sword. The Lord had been preparing David for this point in his life for years. I have often wondered if I am trying to live with armor that I have “not proved.” Do I recognize the Lord’s hand in my daily endeavors, can I see the vision that the Potter has for His clay?

What a terrible event it would have been for David to release his sling and watch the projectile soar through the air only to crumble as he realizes he had unknowingly chosen a dirt clod, or to reach into his shepherd’s sack to only find a hole. Belief alone was not enough to kill Goliath and free Israel. In the end, it wasn’t David’s great faith that downed the giant; it was a stone, a carefully selected stone, and had that one been ineffective, he had four more.

When placed in trying circumstances, we too must search for stones. Not just any stones; they need to be rounded and smooth. And with those stones and the faith developed in their collection, there isn’t a giant who cannot be slayed.