So what does this mean? What is it and how do you know you have it? The godly list that I had when I was a child, for example not playing outside on a Sunday certainly doesn’t apply for me today when I pop into the shop to buy something on the Lord’s Day.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;” (2 Peter 1 v 5-6)
The word is eusebeia and it is easiest to understand it as an awesome respect towards God and people. But how do we know we are godly?
Remember this? “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.” (Isaiah 28:16)
A tested stone. In every way possible He was tried, tempted, tested and He came out totally obedient.
But here’s the question: when you know you’ve done well, you’ve become a veteran as a follower of Christ, you’ve stood the test of time and the trials of life and you are now being recognised for having done so, you are being praised: can you pass this praise test? Proverbs 27 “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise” v21.
What happens to you horizontally impacts vertically and vice versa.
The kind of testing that makes a person a Godly person is not the testing but the successes.
How does a person handle praise?
Do they deflect it to God out of false humility?
Do they crave for more?
Do they try and please to get praise?
Is it a drug?
Does it create their fantasist identity?
Do preachers think they’re giving a presidential speech?
Do worship leaders think they’re pop idols?
If there’s no praise do workers think they are undervalued and so do not work?
Within praise there lies such temptation.Praise is a crucible, it is a furnace.
Let’s not fail at the final hurdle. Let’s not pass the tests to simply fail at the grand podiums that our successes have built.
Add eusebeia to your faith. Make every effort. Walk well. Be careful the horizontal doesn’t impact the vertical.
Missions Paul 