Episode 59: Redeem the Time with Diligence

“When we love Christ and have faith in Him, we gladly work diligently as our spiritual worship to Him. We acknowledge and affirm that Christ diligently obeyed the will of His father and went through much sacrifice and labor to die on the cross and that we too have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us. And that whatever we do, we can heartily do as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord we will receive the inheritance as our reward, for we are serving the Lord Christ.”

Family Worship

Family Worship Devotional Download

Open in Prayer

Worship:
(1) Before You I Kneel (A Worker’s Prayer) – Keith & Kristyn Getty
(2) Take My Life – Chris Tomlin
(3) The Servant King – Graham Kendrick

“Work Like an Ant” Family Activity:

Items Needed:
• Piece of Paper
• Pens, Colored Pencils or Markers

Instructions:
1. Draw and decorate an ant on the piece of blank paper. Write your name on the ant or above it.
2. Write down some goals/chores you need to be diligent in for the day or week on the left side of the piece of paper. Draw some boxes or columns (like a chart) next to each goal/chore.
3. Keep it posted on the refrigerator with magnets and encourage the kids to draw an ant in each box every time they succeed in being diligent in a particular area (will need parental participation for this).

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think is amazing about the ant that we can observe and learn from, according to this proverb? Are there any examples or someone that you look up to as someone who works diligently for Christ? Share.
2. What are some specific areas of laziness do you see in your life?
3. Are there any changes you can make to fight laziness in your life? (think broad context: vocation, physical, spiritual disciplines, parenting, relationships, fellowship, serving others, corporate worship)

Prayer Focuses:

1. Confess instances of laziness or having an attitude of laziness in your heart that has prevented you from working diligently.
2. Ask the Lord for awareness and discernment when it comes to recognizing areas that need greater priority and attention rather than neglect/procrastination in your life. Request that the Lord would help you to respond in those situations with a diligent working mindset.
3. Praise God for areas of your life where you’ve experienced growth in diligence and thank Him for the change His Spirit is doing in and through you.