Think of the people you know. People in your family. People in your church. People at your office. People at the store.
Now, think of the word "godly." And go through that list again. Can you apply that adjective to any of the people you are picturing right now?
I know good people. Hard working people. Faithful people. But sadly, the names of people I would consider "godly" would fall on a pretty short list.
Godly does not mean "holier than thou" or "perfect" or being a "spiritual giant." Godly is simply having the characteristics of God. Not characteristics of the world. Not characteristics of unbelievers. Case in point: Someone cuts you off in traffic. You get right up on his rear bumper, honking your horn, waving your arms, screaming every kind of name you can think of (even though he obviously can't hear you)...
Is that how the world (most people) would respond, or is that how Christ would respond?
Being godly takes time, effort, practice - yes, practice. It takes a determination to purpose in your heart how you will respond in certain circumstances. The amazing thing is, that we can actually practice for some situations before they even happen!!
For instance,
If you go to Walmart on a Saturday afternoon, it's going to be crowded...people are going to leave their carts in your way while they wonder off looking for something. Or they're going to stand right in the middle of the aisle, talking, while people in both directions try to get past them. Or the lady in front of you, with two full carts, has coupons and ads and Walmart Saving Catcher...and THEN realizes she left her wallet in the car and it'll just take her a minutes to go get it...
Sound familiar?
A naturally frustrating place to be. BUT - you can purpose in your heart to go and have a cheerful attitude. To smile, to wait patiently, To go on and come back to that blocked spot later.
Or how about your drive to work every day? You already know, someone is going to cut you off. Someone is going to merge without looking. Someone is going to drive 20 miles below the speed limit - in front of you AND on either side!
So how are you going to deal with that?
Decide today. Purpose in your heart TODAY.
Being godly doesn't happen overnight.
