Godliness — Devotional and Prayer — KJV Bible Study
A DEVOTIONAL AND A PRAYER · A SHORT READING TO CARRY, AND A PRAYER TO CLOSE
Godliness — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Today, train yourself to be godly. You will train your body for a small benefit; train your inner self for a benefit that reaches into everything, both this life now and the life to come. Godliness is not an act you put on for other people; a person can keep up the outward form while denying its power. It is a way of living in God's presence — walking with him and pleasing him, the way Enoch did. And the strength for it has already been given to you: God's divine power has given you everything you need for life and godliness, through knowing him. So you do not climb up to God by being good on your own; God came down in human form, and godliness is the life that responds to him. Today, be content with food and clothing, because godliness together with contentment is great gain. Live in awe of God, and keep his commands; turn away from ungodliness and worldly cravings; and look forward to that blessed hope. Search it out.
1. EXERCISE THYSELF UNTO GODLINESS
1 Timothy 4:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1 Timothy 4:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
EXERCISE THYSELF RATHER UNTO GODLINESS → IT IS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS, FOR THE LIFE THAT NOW IS AND THAT WHICH IS TO COME.
(My personal thoughts — today, put your effort where the reward is greatest. You will work hard for your body, which pays off only a little and only for a short time; work harder at godliness, which pays off in everything and reaches into the life to come. Exercise it like a muscle — use it today, and it grows.)
GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT = GREAT GAIN + HAVING FOOD AND RAIMENT, BE THEREWITH CONTENT.
(My personal thoughts — the world chases profit and never finds rest; the godly person already has their profit, and it is great. Today, be content with what you have — food and clothing — and you are richer than someone who owns everything but has no God. Contentment is not having a lot; it is needing nothing besides him.)
THE WORD TO HIDE IN THE HEART
1 Timothy 3:16Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.
THE PRAYER
Lord, you are the God whose divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness, through knowing the one who has called me. So I am not asking for a strength you have held back, but for help to use the strength you have already given. Teach me today to train myself to be godly, and not to pour all my effort into my body, which pays off so little. Help me to walk in your presence and please you, the way Enoch walked with you; and do not let me keep an outward form of godliness while denying its power. Give me a contented heart, so that with food and clothing I can be satisfied, because godliness together with contentment is great gain. Rescue me from the love of money, and from the cravings that fight against the soul. And because the love of many people will grow cold, help me to hold on to the end and not become lukewarm — so that I will not be a tree whose fruit withers, but one that will never fall, and so I will be given a rich welcome into your everlasting kingdom. For great is the mystery of godliness: you appeared in human form; make me godly in you. Amen.
CLOSING
Titus 2:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 2:13Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, LIVE GODLY IN THIS PRESENT WORLD → LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE.
