Do You Want to Be Godly?

One of the questions I have asked individuals over the last
several years* is, “Do you want to be godly?”

The question is probably counter-productive. The answers are
hesitant, preceded by looking around the room. When the answer is yes, it is
because that is supposed to be the right answer.

Here are a few verses for meditation:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”
(Matthew 5:48).

It does not matter what the definition of “perfect” is.
Whatever it is, it is “as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all
you do” (1 Peter 1:15).

The same reasoning follows this command. It is because God
is holy.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children”
(Ephesians 5:1).

We are to imitate God in love and forgiveness.

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all
wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed
to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers”
(Romans 8:29).

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God’s purpose and provision is for us to be holy.

* Written August 2008.