Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Attempt.
Attempt is defined at “to make an effort at” (dictionary.com).
We can make an attempt at many things on any given day. Some we may succeed at and others we may do poorly. But we have attempted a new task, a new recipe, a new diet, a new hobby.
At least we made an effort.
But we are to attempt more. Our attempts are meant for more.
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, NIV)
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV)
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3, NIV)Â
We are to attempt, to make every effort …
to live in peace with everyone,
to be holy and live holy lives,
to add these qualities to our faith,
to have these qualities in increasing measure each day,
to keep the unity of the Spirit.
Let’s at least make an attempt each day. Try. Make every effort. We can do it.
It definitely makes a difference in our relationships with others if we make an effort in these things.
Yes, and I think even more so in these days we are in.
Thank you for this encouragement today, Joanne, to make every effort…
‘Attempt’ means ‘make an effort at’,
but at’s a preposition,
and ending sentences with that
is the road to fell perdition,
or say thus grammarians
who hold literary sway,
and very few contrarians
will step into their way
except for Winston Churchill
who a speech once read,
and for this crime was spoken ill
and so famously said
that this nonsense now afoot
is what he up which will not put.
Thanks for sharing this important exhortation.
Making every effort carries a bit more weight than just making an attempt, doesn’t it? Important distinction and a good challenge. Thank you for sharing it. Visiting from FMF#15
Who knows what we can do if we try?