Becoming godly

All of our youth kids from our church did great at fine arts. It was fun to watch them perform. George and Janelle won "merit" which means that they got to perform before 7-10 thousand people. It was great!

I am so proud of them. Way to go George and Janelle!

I desire to be godly! I really do.

Paul was a coach to Timothy, a much younger man in the faith. As he mentored him, he emphasized godliness.

What does godliness mean to you?

A list of rules?

Reading the Bible 8 hours a day?

Going around with a frown on your face?

Living like a monk, removed from the world, praying, meditating and humming hymns behind monastery walls?

Being a squeaky-clean, Bible-toting do-gooder, naive, moralistic, with an annoying innocence?

Nope, don't think so.

I read a good quote that sums up godliness: "Not just outward worship, nor a mere concept of God, nor a virture, nor an ideal over against a Gnostic philosophy of self-deprivation that regards creation as bad. True godliness that's born of faith covers everyday conduct in honoring God as Creator and Redeemer."

Does it mean I have to be perfect?

Does it mean that I need to practice my spiritual disciplines like push-ups or sit-ups, religious exercise to beat our bodies and minds into submission?

That would be more Gnostic than Christian.

If you just want to have control over your lusts or become more serene, any meditative religion will do.

What sets Christianity apart from other religions is knowing and becoming like Christ.

Not perfection (although you will grow in character).
Not tranquility (although your life will become remarkably more peaceful).

I can't DO anything to make myself more acceptable to God.

A "godly" person is a person who ceases to be self-centered in order to become Christ-centered.

Christ became a man, and as a result of His earthly ministry we see how God intended for us to live.

Jesus is our example of godliness.

Therefore, being "godly" simply means becoming more like Christ.