Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.

In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,

I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.

But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,

But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,

Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge;

For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God.

But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.

Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.