Godliness

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14

I've heard a friend of mine say many times, "If Jesus were to come tomorrow, how would you live today?" If we continue to live in sin, are we really saved? God did not intervene in our lives so we can continue to live as the world does. He came to bring us to Him and conform us into His image. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2). God wants to redeem us from the world. We have the choice to go with Him or not. But if we choose to follow Him, we cannot be at peace with living in sin. "No one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). "...as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23), for Jesus to return, we should desire to live godly lives. When Jesus sees me, I want Him to see a man who strives to live like Him and serve Him.

All the junk in this world makes me so sick. And I know it breaks God's heart to see sin. I want to live my life as a reflection of God. Knowing God and experiencing His grace has changed my heart. Things I used to be cool with now disgust me. I hate sin. God is so good, I don't need what this world has to offer. There's no reason for me to go back to those things or even allow it to be a part of my life. He has set me free from sin, from this world, from ungodliness and worldly passions. I want to do whatever I can do allow the Holy Spirit to work in my life, so I can live a godly life in this present age where so many people are just doing what they want. That kind of living is living in bondage to sin. It's just digging yourself into a hole. I want to reflect God in every area of my life. The way I talk, how I work, my attitude, the music I listen to, how I treat others, how I manage my time, everything. "...be an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). What's the point of being able to know such an awesome God but not letting Him work in your life? He has so much to offer us. Life in Christ is truly living. God wants to set us free so we can have an intimate relationship with Him, so we can "have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10), "so that [we] may become blameless and pure, children of God, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which [we] shine like stars in the universe" (Philippians 2:15). Trust Him. He's the best thing in the universe!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1

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