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I have a modernized version of Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening. This morning’s meditation really stood out to me:

Diligence

“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness.”

-2 Peter 1:5-6

If you want to enjoy the eminent grace of being fully assured of faith, then under the blessed influence and assistance of the Holy Spirit do what the Scripture tells you: “give diligence.” Be sure that your faith is the right kind, that it is not mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith that depends on Christ, and on Christ alone.

Give diligent heed to your courage. Plead with God to give you a lion’s courage, that with a consciousness for right you may go boldly forward.

Study the Scriptures to get knowledge, for the knowledge of doctrine will tend to confirm faith. Try to understand God’s Word. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16).

When you have done this, add self-control. Pay attention to your body and have self-control without. Pay attention to your soul and have self-control within. Get self-control of lip, life, heart, and thought.

Then add to this, with the help of the Holy Spirit, patience. Ask Him to give you patience that endures affliction; patience that, when tried, you shall come forth as gold; patience so that you will not murmur or be depressed in affliction.

When that grace is won, seek godliness. Godliness is something more than religion. Make God’s glory your object in life. Live in His sight. Dwell close to Him. Then when you have godliness, add brotherly love. Have a love for all the saints and then add a charity that opens its arms with an intense love for their souls.

When you are adorned with these jewels, you will know by the clearest evidence your calling and election is sure.

Then, I looked online and found the original text which is similar in meaning, yet different in wording/grammar.

“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge, etc.” –2 Peter 1:5, 6

If thou wouldest enjoy the eminent grace of the full assurance of faith, under the blessed Spirit’s influence, and assistance, do what the Scripture tells thee, “Give diligence.” Take care that thy faith is of the right kind–that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone. Give diligent heed to thy courage. Plead with God that He would give thee the face of a lion, that thou mayest, with a consciousness of right, go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get knowledge; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to confirm faith. Try to understand God’s Word; let it dwell in thy heart richly.

When thou hast done this, “Add to thy knowledge temperance.” Take heed to thy body: be temperate without. Take heed to thy soul: be temperate within. Get temperance of lip, life, heart, and thought. Add to this, by God’s Holy Spirit, patience; ask Him to give thee that patience which endureth affliction, which, when it is tried, shall come forth as gold. Array yourself with patience, that you may not murmur nor be depressed in your afflictions. When that grace is won look to godliness. Godliness is something more than religion. Make God’s glory your object in life; live in His sight; dwell close to Him; seek for fellowship with Him; and thou hast “godliness”; and to that add brotherly love. Have a love to all the saints: and add to that a charity, which openeth its arms to all men, and loves their souls. When you are adorned with these jewels, and just in proportion as you practise these heavenly virtues, will you come to know by clearest evidence “your calling and election.” “Give diligence,” if you would get assurance, for lukewarmness and doubting very naturally go hand in hand.

I think I prefer the original 🙂