Godliness #7—Godly Fellowship

Turn away from evil, do good, and always live together in fellowship. For I AM loves justice, and does not forsake his godly ones. Psalm 37:27–28

Caring for other citizens of God’s kingdom demonstrates and perpetuates our fellowship with God. One of the ways Jesus paraphrases this promise is this: “Those who give you a cup of water because of your identity as followers of Christ shall not lose their reward.” Another is this: “To the extent that you took care of one of these brothers or sisters of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.” Living this way demonstrates godliness because such behavior shows that we are in accord with God’s design to extend his grace in the world. It is a ‘just’ way to live in that we do not deprive someone of some aspect of his grace or, positively, we help restore something that has been wrongly taken away. Eternal fellowship with God and his community results when we do good to the godly because they are godly. Therefore, we can be certain God will always be there for us, both now and in eternity. He usually sustains us in this phase of our life through other godly people. But even if we die because of our godliness, he has not abandoned us. For, “to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” Then, eventually, the Father will “show the surpassing riches of his grace in useful kindness toward us in Christ Jesus forever.”

Righteous Lord, knowing you will vindicate my trust in your promise of grace—now and forever—encourages me. Open my eyes to what I need to do to support your godly ones in a good way today.