Godliness – a result of walking with Christ
Godliness
2 Peter 1:5-8 (Click on any Bible link in this article and you may choose to read the verses from other translations)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 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. –New International Version 1984
The Miriam-Webster online dictionary (www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/Godliness) defines godliness as:
| n. | 1. | Careful observance of, or conformity to, the laws of God; the state or quality of being godly; piety. |
| a. | 1. | Pious; reverencing God, and his character and laws; obedient to the commands of God from love for, and reverence of,his character; conformed to God‘s law; devout; righteous; as, a godly life. |
| adv. | 1. | Piously; devoutly; righteously. |
If we apply a little reasoning to this definition we will conclude that to become godly one must know God and his commands. We know that the first place to look is in the Bible. It would be very difficult to act like or follow the teachings of someone we knew very little about.
To become godly, we must overcome our sinful nature and strive to know God fully. This can only happen if we are diligent in seeking him in his Bible and seeking his presence in prayer. Just as God promised the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:13, he also says to us: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” In another passage God promises that if we draw near to him he will draw near to us.
James 4:7-10 gives some direction to those who would seek God. In verse 8 he says “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Is anything hindering your ability to walk closely with Christ? Paul relates our life walk with Christ to a race as he tells us in Hebrews 1:1-3 to throw off everything that hinders us so that we may fix our eyes on Jesus and freely run to win the eternal prize. What might be hindering us? Anything that takes our eyes off of Jesus and onto ourselves. What makes us too busy to spend time in the Bible or in prayer? What keeps us from participating in worship and Bible study in our church and/or community? What keeps us from giving the full tithe to God? Are there idols in disguise that are taking your eyes off Jesus?
In 1 Timothy 6 Paul writes to Timothy encouraging him to resist the love of money saying “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (v.6)
Pray with me the prayer from Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.