Godliness is a moral choice

Over time you meet all kinds of people. There are people who are very meek and quiet. There are people who are bold and loud. Here is a gentleman, there is a roughneck. You meet intellectuals who pride themselves on their deep thinking and broad scope of knowledge. You meet others who avoid any intellectual pursuit to live according to the impulses of the moment.

How does temperament/personality/culture affect your relationship with God? How does your relationship with God affect your personality? If a person is arrogant, outspoken, and sarcastic - can that person be godly? If a person is meek, quiet, and non-confrontational - is that person godly?

The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2Corinthians 5:17) This certainly implies that people who come to know Christ will be transformed by the experience.

The Bible urges the disciples, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)

Pursuing godliness requires pursuing personal changes that honor God. The godly person is not serving SELF, but Christ. The godly person is not living by the values of this world, but by heavenly values. The godly person is not controlled by temperament, culture or personality - but by the word of God applied by the Spirit of God.

A person's underlying personality might not change - but their use of that personality must be brought into the service of Christ.

No more excuses... "It's just the way I am." "It's the way I was brought up." "I'm just outspoken." "I'm just being true to myself." "I don't know any other way."

The godly person is one who has come to believe in Christ Jesus. This person has seen himself as a sinner and has repented of his sins. He has turned from the false gods of this world and has committed himself to following the One True and Living God. This person has made a decision that by God's help he will accept his responsibility to choose the things that are right in God's sight. No excuses.

Godliness is a moral choice.