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    by Jeannie Pallett

The Practise of Godliness - The Pursuit of Holiness
Date Posted: September 4, 2011

Strong's Concordance lists holiness, as a synonym for godliness - Is it perhaps something more.

Holiness captures the essence of God. It is more than His character and His nature; it encompasses all of who God is. God says He is unchanging - He is faithful - He is faithful to be and do what He says He will be and do. There is no shadow of turning or variation with Him. He can never be the tiniest bit unholy or imperfect. Holiness is the source and core of God and He cannot be any other way.

To us He is still saying "Be holy as I am holy". Will we take on that challenge - will we cultivate a spirit that is sensitive to sin so that we can say like David in Psalm 51:4 " against You, You only have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight". Can we begin to look at our sin as an offense against God instead of a personal defeat? That view alone can instigate a desire for a greater obedience to the Word of God.

Exodus 15:11 "Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord? Who is like Thee majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?"

Holiness belongs to the Lord. In all of His ways, God is consistently holy. In His judgement, mercy, justice and compassion God is acting and planning through His nature of holiness.

Too often we want the "wonders that will follow those that believe" without the practice and discipline of godliness in our lives.

Hebrews 12:14 - To us as believers, the writer of Hebrews is admonishing us, and even issuing a warning when he says "make every effort to be holy for without holiness no one will see the Lord."

Therefore, holiness encompasses all that God is and it seems to be a step up from godliness.

Psalm 93:5 says, "Your (God's) testimonies are very sure; holiness (apparent separation from sin, with simple trust and hearty obedience) is becoming to your house, O God, forever."

We are the house of God, we are the place where He dwells and we must choose to separate ourselves from sinful ways if we desire to bring pleasure to God.

Proverbs 15:19 "The way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns, it pricks, lacerates and entangles him, but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway".

Isaiah 35:8 speaks very clearly of the way we are to live "And a highway shall be there, and a way; and it shall be called the Holy Way - the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for the redeemed; the wayfaring men, yes, the simple ones and fools, shall not err in it and lose their way." This means that it is not too difficult for any one of us to choose to follow Jesus and walk in His footsteps of absolute obedience and complete freedom from sin.

Holiness is akin to the perfection of Almighty God. Being holy as He is holy is our high calling in life, one that we are expected to attain.

Holiness is all about God.

Godliness on the other hand is all about us.

Godliness seems to be like a character trait, a way of being that we need to work on, develop and nurture constantly.

Godliness is not a natural character trait; it is a foundational spiritual quality that makes our Christian life exciting, effective and pleasing to God. It is a quality that we as Christians need and must choose to grow in.

Godliness, when we nurture it becomes habitual for us just as it becomes habitual for us to sin.

We always have a choice before us - Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." A gentle answer turns away wrath where? The wrath that is turned away is in me. I need to make it a habit to respond with gentleness so that I am sowing to the Spirit and reap peace and joy so that anger is not stirred up in me. Peace and Joy are fruits of the Spirit and they guard my heart and strengthen me so that obedience to the Word of God comes quicker next time.

Godliness is inward; it is when the way we think and feel in difficult circumstances brings pleasure to God. It is our standard of right behaviour, right thinking when nobody but God can see.

Godliness is a trait that we as believers must cultivate in our personal lives. It is not natural to us. Colossians tells us to "Put on" love, tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering..." if I have to "put on" something, it means I am not wearing it.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 talks about "exercising ourselves towards godliness and that godliness is profitable for all things".

What does exercise take? A willingness to endure "sore flesh" for a time until a habit is developed. It takes discipline and commitment to a certain set of actions in order to see a change in our natural man.

Godliness is modeled for us in Jesus. He was completely assured that all of His thoughts, words and actions brought pleasure to His Father.

We need to get beyond outward actions and saying what we think is the right thing to say at the right time in order to please and placate men and grow to a place where what we feel and think on the inside of us brings pleasure to God.

At the end when He has the option to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" I want Him to look at me and know that in all the dark and shadowy places of my heart I endeavoured to let the light of Christ shine in, come to a place of repentance and change and walk in the Light as He is in the Light.

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Who am I ? I am a woman who has been pursued by a God who passionately loves me; a woman who is learning to surrender her heart and mind to that great Lover of my soul. I am a woman who is learning to die to self in order that I might live the abundant life that God has planned for me. He has ignited in my heart a passion for writing as I spend time in His Presence and  to share the tender heart of my God through the words He gives me. I am the author of Beckoned by the King and less of me and more of Him can be found at http://Psalm119Greaterthangold.net
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