“And [add] to patience godliness….”
We start with faith as our foundation and then we add to it virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, and now godliness. Godliness is a pretty imposing term. We think we must conduct ourselves in a flawless manner to be godly.
But that isn’t possible for us mere human beings to do. Actually, godliness isn’t flawlessness on our part. Godliness is our reverent attitude toward God and the things He says to us. We are not Godlike in our outer performance. We are Godlike in our inner purity.
The Message Bible says: “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with…reverent wonder….”
Godliness is the part of God’s divine nature that enables us to respond to things as God would respond to them. As a member of God’s family we learn from our Father how to conduct our affairs, how to speak loving words, how to forgive people their trespasses and shortcomings, and how to encourage and bless them, even when their actions don’t deserve it.
So add godliness to your patience!
I add godliness to my faith. I learn to respond to the issues of life with godly values.
- Reading Plan A: Hebrews 6
- Reading Plan B: John 6
- Reading Plan C: Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 6
by Tim Davidson
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.