Godliness #2—Enlightening Godliness

Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will progress in their deceit, both deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12–13

What’s worse than being persecuted? Being deceived. At first, it doesn’t seem so, but when we consider everything from the perspective of eternity, we realize that while the effects of persecution will end, the effects of deception will not. Even in the short run, living contrary to reality is depressing. On the other hand, “living godly lives in Christ Jesus” only leads to greater and greater clarity, and therefore greater and greater joy. Being a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom is the same as being a disciple. It involves following his instructions for how best to relate to him as our deity and to other people as fellow citizens, including those who are not his subjects. Living as Jesus’ disciple is “walking in the light;” it is seeing and responding to the world as it is, not as we might imagine it to be. Obedience to him proves his wisdom’s truth and value, motivating us to learn more from him. The ability of honesty, compassion, patience, faithfulness, and love to make us truly happy becomes increasingly obvious. Similarly, prayer experiences in Jesus’ name allow us to know the fullness of the Father’s pleasure with his Son and the incredible extent to which the Father will go to honor him as he answers our cries for forgiveness, relief, sustenance, and the grace to flourish.

Saving Lord, grant me the patience to endure the persecutions that come as I follow you in the obedience of faith; and open my eyes to see the beauty of the truth I experience in relationship to you each day.