If any genuine child of God were to be asked the question, do you wholeheartedly desire to be godly? I believe that they would most assuredly answer in the affirmative. Yet, to many professing Christians, such aspirations seem to be either a very rare thought or an elusive dream.
Why? Because ever since the day of their profession of faith, they have no doubt received deficient Biblical instruction about the hard reality of how to deal with their own sinful flesh and their subsequent remaining sin. In other words, at a maximum, they were decisioned to Christ while not being discipled after Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, very soon after their conversion, the Christian life became to them something less than a perpetual garden party.
And what’s their problem? They were taught cheap grace rather than free grace.
Notice how the apostle Paul upholds free grace in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you have been bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body.” So then, to glorify God in your body (or to be godly), you will have to make hard choices each day (Colossians 1:18). This is why, of course, Paul said, “discipline [train] yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7).
This spiritual perspective will not happen overnight or by osmosis, but will be an ever-increasing mark in a spiritually-healthy believer’s life (Hebrews 5:14). As we pursue this path, the Bible teaches us that we will understand more and more that “our spirit is willing and our flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Further, we will grasp that we must “make our body our slave” (1 Corinthians 9:27; cf. Luke 9:23). And the amazing thing about this worthy pursuit, is that God grants enjoyment in its daily improvement (1 John 5:3).
Oh people of God, we must come to see the word “discipline” as lovely! For it’s through spiritual discipline that we become more, practically-speaking, like our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:1). Just think with me a moment about being more spiritually-disciplined in: Bible reading, private prayer, church attendance and service, witnessing to the lost, guarding your tongue and temper, bodily exercise, doing your school work, household chores, etc. Do you think such people who aim to glorify Christ in this way are debilitated by depression or guilt? No! They are more joy-filled in Christ, because they are fighting, by God’s grace (and winning), in their battle against being spiritually-undisciplined in their daily lives (Romans 8:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).
Wow, let’s take these truths to heart, repent, and then resolve to honor Christ by saying YES to our key question today! May your worship tomorrow be a sweet-smelling fragrance to Him (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)!!
Jerry Marcellino is pastor of Audubon Drive Bible Church in Laurel. He can be reached by e-mail at pastorjerry@audubonchurch.org
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Do you want to be godly?
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