ADD GODLINESS

At week five we continue uncovering seven characteristics of a godly life outlined in 2 Peter. “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

The word this week is “godliness”. A word we tend to avoid because it means “God-likeness” and we think, “Not me!” In the Greek wording it meant “to worship well” by describing a person who was right in their relationship with God and with his fellowman. Maybe the word “reverence” would come closer to describing this term. It is a character quality that makes a person distinctive. Even at that we say, “Not Me! There’s nothing that stands out in my life.” Well, you should be able to say as a Christ-follower that you are special and you do stand out from the crowd. You should live above the trivial things of life — the passions and pressures that control the lives of others. If not, it is time to seek to do the will of God and seek the welfare of others.
 
You must never get the idea that godliness is an impractical thing. It is extremely practical. Being a godly person means that you make your decisions based on what is right and honorable. You do not take the easy path simply to please others or avoid pain and tribulation. Christ-follower do what is right because it is right and because it is the will of God.

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