Growth in Godliness

Fryes and Pitts - great friends seperated only by location.



In our quest for following the Scriptural directive to “Go and make disciples” our last posts have been directed to “God, show me anything within me that stifles my growth as a disciple of Jesus.”

We tend to resist that exercise out of fear of what we might see or out of resistance to change.
How freeing it is though to see an aberant attidue or behavior, repent of it and cooperate with God in changing it. Results? A growing freedom from the selfishness or resentment, or fear, or whatever has surfaced. Growth in godliness. So, where do we start?

1. Prayer. King David’s prayer becomes ours. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

2. Instruction. The study of Scripture shows us God’s expectations for us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 indicates, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
As we understand the seemingly impossible standards God sets before us, it makes more evident our need for Christ’s empowerment. “Not by might, nor by power, but by God’s Spirit.”

3. WE are not stand-alone Christians, but a part of the body of Christ. One of the blessings of this position is to be involved with a person (spiritual training partner), a mentor, or a small group of followers of Christ endeavoring to live authentically.

I am so blessed to meet with four other guys every Wednesday morning who share my quest for growth in godliness. We lovingly encourage and confront each other as we share the depths of our soul’s pursuit of the Romans 8:29 “being conformed to the image of Christ.”
But our group is rare. I hear of very few opportunities like this.

As John Burke proclaims, “without a doubt, telling another person(s) about our deepest, darkest secrets, our ongoing struggles, our hypocritical behavior, or our sin patterns is probably the hardest thing to do – but the most important. "

Excuses are made to avoid this activity like, “Why can’t I just confess to God?” “What good will it do to air my junk to another person?” All our excuses are part of the denial mechanism that keeps us stuck and this is exactly why Scripture says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16.

Healed:
from resentments, fears,destructive behavior, pride, selfishness, relational and emotional struggle

Growth:
as described in James 1:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

That will only happen when we see Jesus, face to face. But until then, our Wednesday morning group will help propel me to that end. Thanks, men.