Putting Forth the Effort

By Alan Smith

    An instructor was sitting in his office one afternoon when an attractive, very attractive lady knocked on his door.
    "Yes?", he replied, "how may I help you?"
    The lady said "I need to talk to you about my grade in your class."
    "Come in and have a seat," said the instructor.
    "Is there anything I can do to get an 'A' in your class?"
    "What do you mean by anything?" he replied.
    "Anything," she said.
    "Anything?" he asked again.
    She said, in her best sultry voice, "I mean anything."
    The instructor got up from behind his desk, sat down beside her and whispered in her ear, "Would you study?"
    There are many goals that we want to achieve -- better grades, lower weight, a place on an athletic team, success in business, greater Bible knowledge, a closer relationship with God. The question is, "Are we willing the put forth the necessary effort to achieve our goals? Are we truly willing to do anything?"
    I heard once about a Christian who approached a great man of God (I believe it was Gus Nichols) and said, "I'd give my life to know the Bible as well as you do." His reply was, "That's what it took." We want the end result, but we often don't want to put forth the effort to achieve that result.
    Paul exhorted the young man Timothy with these words:  "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
    The word "diligence" suggests a great deal of effort and dedication on our part. May God grant you the strength to accomplish your goals as you supply the diligence.
    Have a great day!

- Alan Smith, minister for the Cruciform Church of Christ in Spring Lake, North Carolina, may be contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com or through the congregation's website: http://www.cruciformcoc.com/