THE BE-ATTITUDE BE GODLY

THE BE-ATTITUDE

BE GODLY

 

 

Train yourself to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7). Paul made this statement to a young pastor Timothy. It suggest that even though we are made in the image of God (genesis 1:27; 9:6), sin makes godliness unnatural for the unbeliever. Therefore, godliness is something that must be learned. Paul continues that thought,

“For physical raining is of some value, but godliness has values for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come”

– 1 Timothy 4:8

 

 

A godly person exhibit the attributes or quality of God (Leviticus 19:2;1 peter 1:16). He or she is also one who is devoted to worshiping (Rom 12:1) and serving God. A Christian is called upon to emulate the moral example and model of God’s nature, character and attributes. In the Bible, all the persons who emulate God and lived under His guidance and laws are called godly, that is those who fear Him. A godly person is one who has received God’s moral character and demonstrates such by fulfilling faithfully the obligations of living totally devoted and committed to God (2 peter 1:3).

 

The inner being, habits of the heart and motives of a Christian must be built solidly upon the foundations of God’s character and moral laws. Godly characters must have their morality and ethics internalized and built solidly from inside. Then their morality and ethics are displayed from the outside at the levels of act and deeds (Luke 6:45). it is required of all Christians to have their heart, their character and motive rooted on the sure foundation of God’s word. The word of godly was used several times in the bible. It means piety and devoutness (1 Tim 2:2; 4:7-8; 2 Peter 1:6-7).

 

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

-2 Timothy 4:7-8

A devote life is in contrast with that of heretics (unbelievers who oppose God’s truth) and libertines (those who live a carefree life, uncovered about moral). Godly people tremble at God’s word and fear Him. A Christian is expected to see the glory, power, majesty, holiness and other attribute of God and then respond in reverence and fear to Him.

 

There is a great lack of godly people in contrast to ungodly. Paul described ungodly people in these words:

“People will lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

– 2 Timothy 3:2-5

Peter also has a similar view of the ungodly “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping”

                        -2 Peter 2: 1-3

The wrath of God is against the ungodly. Characteristic of the ungodly becomes their consequence including; “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, faction and envy; drunkenness, orgies” (Galatians 5:19-21)

Characteristics of the ungodly

What are the activities or what does the life of the godless look like?

• The ungodly “maliciously mock” people (psalm 35:16)
• The law is made for the ungodly (1 Timothy 1:9).
• Godless chatter leads to greater godlessness. (2 Timothy 2:16).
• The ungodly will suffer judgment of God. (2 Peter 2:4-6; 3:7)
• The ungodly “pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality an deny Jesus Christ our only sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:4).
• “Ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings” (Jude1:8).
• The ungodly speaks defiant words (Jude 1:15).

Our modern world is filled with godlessness including things like  abortion, perversions of sexuality, violence against innocent, robbery, including the theft of intellectual properties, vulgar language, immodest dressing, speaking lies and living in deception, injustice, rebellion, thanklessness and many other vices. But since this is the character of man’s nature the only and best solution to all of this and to bring about societal change one which everyone lives happily and in peace we need to put on the nature of God. We need to be godly and the interesting thing is that its 

much fun and rewarding as it promises life and life eternal. It is God’s will that we look and take on His nature because that is the only way we ca enjoy what He has for us.

 

#THE_BE_ATTITUDE

#BE_GODLY