“Crunch time.” Have you ever heard or used those words? Maybe you have used some other phrase like “this is where the rubber meets the road” or “this is where you find out what you are made of.” If you have ever played any organized sport of any kind, crunch time is when all the practice and all the hard work come into play. It may be the closing seconds or the last inning or final drive. Do you remember that scene from the movie Hoosiers at the very end of the game when it all came down to one last play? When the coach assigned someone else to take the shot and the team balked, Jimmy stepped forward and said, “I can make it.” And he did. That was crunch time.
It is crunch time in my series on Funny Math. We have been talking about adding (to our faith) goodness, knowledge, self-control and perseverance. But now it is crunch time. This quality we will be studying this week is where it all comes down to. “Add to your perseverance…godliness.” Plainly put: godliness should be our greatest desire. I like what Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” The NIV puts it “give me an undivided heart.” WOW!
Songwriter and worship leader, Matt Redman wrote, “Those five word (give me an undivided heart) are probably some of the most important we’ll ever pray.” -(Unquenchable Worshipper-p.94)
I think Matt hit on something. Rhetorical question: how hard is it to keep an undivided heart these days? No answer needed. I know the answer to that. So do you. But if we are to be godly, if we are to be Christlike, we need to be God-centered. While godliness is the miracle we desire, there is a mountain that looms in front of us: worldliness. I am not going to spend my time telling people what they can and cannot do or should or should not do. That is a pure waste of time. I am going to take us I Cor.10:6-11 for a good description of worldliness but I want to end on a positive note, not have the people leaving the building feeling beat up. So…here is my ending. How can I make godliness real in my life? Two things:
- Look and look and look again at Jesus.
- Practice and practice and practice the daily discipline of dying to self.
So, let me ask you. What is your definition of godliness? I know you find it a struggle but what are you doing to facilitate becoming more godly in your daily life? Is there anything you can add to this that I might be able to use Sunday morning? Please feel free to comment.
As always, thanks for the prayers for Sunday. And thanks to Dan for the banner.
“Songwriter and worship leader, Matt Redman wrote, “Those five word (give me an undivided heart) are probably some of the most important we’ll ever pray.” – That quote made the entire post worth the read (not that the rest wasn’t brilliant!). Thanks for the insight. I’m better for it.
“While godliness is the miracle we desire, there is a mountain that looms in front of us: worldliness.”
Wow! That is quite a sentence hidden inside a paragraph!
That probably describes me more than I want to admit.
Scott: Matt said a mouthful for sure. Glad it ministered to you. Brilliant? Nah. 🙂
DJ: Join the club. It is a never-ending battle for me to stay focused.
Hi Cycleguy,
I think the Bible has some stories that express godliness to me.
Noah. When the whole world was doing and believing something else Noah was listening and obeying God. There were only 8 people saved in the ark when God destroyed the people living at that time by water.
I think of Paul and so many others. Paul was willing and did suffer much in what he was called to do. Everywhere he went he experienced opposition. Sometimes he was killed for speaking about Jesus. That’s godliness. Willing to die for Christ.
Again, David was godly. What did he do? He was a worshiper. He called on God. He lived his life and made his decisions based on God. That’s godliness. Living everyday with Christ as an integral part of our lives.
There is likely many more examples. what about Daniel? He disobeyed the King. So that he would not disobey God. Willing to pay the price if needed. Sacrifice, that’s godliness
etc.
Brilliant? yah.
Linda: Good examples. Thanks for your contribution.
Scott: thanks. 🙂
Great post bro’…I think Peter has a good working definition on this!
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
(2 Peter 1:3-7)
“God’s divine power has granted us all things that pertain to (or lead to) life and godliness.” This is a humbling sentence. When it comes to life and godliness… we must have everything provided for us from outside. Of course.. this does not mean we are passive. As Paul says, “Work out your salvation . . . for God is at work in you” (Philippians 2:13). But it does imply that we could never be godly or attain eternal life if we do not rely on divine power.
Jay: You just gave my whole sermon series away! 😛 I have truly been blessed by studying this passage. Thanks for the kind words.
Ike: Agreed. we spend way too much time trying to do it on our own.
Wow, powerful things here. Thanks Jay for the 2 Peter reference. DIVINE POWER is screaming at me where worldliness seems to rely on personal power. Being overwhelmed with the divine humbles me to show the brotherly love through my personal inadequacies…Praying Bill! I KNOW those hearing your words will be blessed and encouraged!
Tom: Divine power is the way to get it done. Thanks for the prayers.
I can’t give you any answers but “an undivided heart” is exactly what I want. That will go right in my prayers starting tonight. Thank you. It is a challenge; it’s hard. You are right to end on a positive note.
Ivan: Just hearing you say you are praying for an “undivided heart” are words enough for me. Good to hear from you.
My journey seems to take so many twists and turns as I walk with Jesus. So many times I find myself on little rabbit trails and Jesus calls out and beckons me back on the path with Him. I find myself with “shiny ball disease” often..something captures my attention and interest and God takes a back seat…I am learning to keep my eyes on Him and continually keep my hand in His as I walk this journey with Jesus.
Great thoughts as ALWAYS Bill!
Julie: what a great way to put it: finding yourself with “shiny ball disease.” Your last sentence speaks volumes: “I am learning…” That will be one of my final thoughts today. Thanks for the comment.