Serious Practical Godliness

The Holy Bible

¹³ You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don't turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. ¹⁴ All of Moses' Teachings are summarized in a single statement, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." ¹⁵ But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don't destroy each other. ¹⁶ Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants.

(Bible Translation and Location: God's Word Translation – Galatians 5:13-16)

Thoughts:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we always followed that adage WWJD, before we fire back with some of our worldly comments or reactions? I would dare say that unless we fill ourselves with God's Word, and unless we deliberately take aim to follow in His ways daily, then our minds are fed with the evil of this old world. Our reaction to things happening to us, or around us, is then marred by the evil of this world, rather than enriched by the teachings and example of Jesus. The unfortunate result is that we offer no real help to a situation already in trouble, we just add to the misery or degradation of circumstances that Satan has already provoked, and even spiraled out of control. Friends, we have been saved to follow the example and teachings of Jesus, and not to merely 'egg on' an already disastrous and deteriorating world. Paul teaches in verse 16 that we are to live as our spiritual life directs so that we will never follow through on what our corrupt nature wants. Let's feed our spiritual life daily so that it might withstand the evil that we will face in this wicked world. Let's take a stand for doing the will of God, and living out His character and teachings towards practical godly living in every form, every day in all that we face. This old world needs the freshness of a godly nature to shine through those who claim Christianity, so that the extreme negative and sinful actions that prevail might be challenged and overridden in the name of Jesus, and for His glory. Do you know this Jesus in a personal and meaningful way friend? If not, please use the information in the footnote to become acquainted with Him. He's the best thing that could happen to any human this side of glory!
 
Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe that if we live like this world, we will see no improvement to what we encounter each day as a result of the sin that is so prevalent everywhere we turn. I firmly believe that You came to offer a better way, a different way, so that we might have hope for a brighter future – one that includes being by Your side in glory around the throne of God. Please impress upon Christians the reason that You came, the reason You saved them and the reason that we should strive daily to be more like You in our everyday walk and talk. Paul clearly stated that we should live in evidence of our spiritual walk and not like our old corrupt nature wants. Dear Jesus, please continue to impress upon us the need to be clear witnesses of the One to whom we belong. Please help us to fill ourselves with more of You every day so that we may overflow with Your goodness and shine in the godliness that Your Word teaches us. We are Your representatives, may we always leave no doubt in the minds of those that observe us. Please once again soften the hearts of those that may read this devotional today but who have not truly surrendered their lives wholeheartedly to You. May this be the day of salvation for them, is my humble and simple prayer today that I ask in the name of Jesus, AMEN!

 
FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day's devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!