2 John 1

2 John 1 - There is an exhortation to be diligent so that we receive His FULL reward (see verse 8). The full reward is speaking to me of living eternally in heaven with the Lord. Yet there are rewards we may not fully receive here if we are not diligent.

Grace, mercy, and peace all come from God and Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit (see verse 3), but the caveat is, grace, mercy and peace will be with those who LIVE IN TRUTH AND LOVE.

This must be where diligence comes in. What does it mean to be diligent? It is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.

Steady speaks to me of going to the Lord daily, without giving up. Earnest is defined as being devout, heartfelt, wholehearted, sincere, impassioned, fervent, ardent, and intense. Energetic speaks to me of being passionate and fiery!

Diligence, then, looks like daily (or even moment to moment) seeking truth and love and following through on what God needs us to do. Never retreating. Never losing our passion. Always from the heart. Always sincere. And when it feels like we can't?
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Look to others who CAN HELP RESTORE US BY EDIFYING US, with nourishment, living water, covering of the current weakness, healing, prayers freedom from the place of captivity, and welcoming us back into the fold.