To lose an appreciation for the majesty of God is a loss that robs the experience of life of its primary value. Godliness requires zeal, knowledge, and direction. So how do I become godly? The first instruction is to avoid foolish talk. This means that I will live to be able to discern between truth and error. We also need to directly confront false teachers. We must know where they get their message. If it is not from Scripture, it is not an authority. If it is from Scripture, but in error, the same applies. Also, who are these teachers speaking about? Is it themselves or is it Jesus Christ? False teachers, when they rarely focus on God, get Him wrong. What is their idea about the problem in the world? Is it sin, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the solution? If not, they have misunderstood and taught the real problem. Does the Jesus they profess resemble the Jesus of the Bible? So, in order to pursue godliness, you must grow in your knowledge of God's word, in order to become a discerning listener. |