Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

                                                                                                                       1 John 4:7-8 

When you think of “being godly” or “having godliness”, what comes to your mind? I believe that the way you answer that question will have a major bearing on how you go about pursuing godliness and how you react to others around you. I believe it would be helpful here to state the obvious. First, God is God and we are His creation. Secondly, We are not and never will be God. But, as believers, we are called to possess the very characteristics of God and of Jesus Christ. So, to be godly is to possess the character and nature of God. Likewise, to be Christ-like is to mirror, in our own lives, what Jesus did during His earthly ministry. So what is the character and nature of God? While the words describing God are numerous, again, I believe that the way you answer that question will explain your actions and attitudes. Scripture tells us very simply and plainly that God is love. Jesus teaches us that the greatest two commandments (things you can do to exhibit godliness) are to be in a loving relationship with God and to distribute that same love to everyone else (Matthew 22:36-40). There isn’t anything else that triumphs over the love of God. Paul echoes this when he states that love is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:10). So godliness should produce in us a love for God and a love for people. But practically, how should love be demonstrated? Scripture doesn’t leave us wanting in answering that question either. Love is patient and love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4).

As you read this, you know within yourself whether or not you are a patient person. You are intimately acquainted with your level of willingness to “go the distance with someone.” As Christians, we are to demonstrate godliness through love and we really can’t claim to love someone if we are unable to display patience towards others. Here is the reality: we don’t tend to have patience with people that we do not like. Likewise, we might find ourselves lacking loving patience with someone who has hurt us or has failed morally. When we proclaim God’s grace yet fail to provide it when it is needed most, how can we honestly say that we are demonstrating godliness? A lack of patience with others can often signal judgment that has already taken place in our hearts. We desire to hold up the very highest ideals and standards of God, but, in reality, we ourselves have not lived up to those same standards. As we request God’s grace, patience, and redemption in our own lives, we should be reflecting that same attitude towards others as well. God is love and God is patient. As believers, our godliness must include both of those characteristics.

Finally, love is kind. Have you every known someone who is just plain mean? They do not seem to possess any kindness in them at all? That is not the testimony that should be coming out of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. If we are not kind, we are not being loving. And if we are not being loving, we are failing in our efforts to display godliness. People want to be around kind and compassionate people. We are drawn to a warm heart and a friendly smile. When kindness is what emanates from within, we are accurately portraying the love of God. Consider the words of Jesus:

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

                                                                                                                        John 7:38

Godliness means that we should have love, patience, and kindness flowing out of our very lives. Others should not just see us rather they should see Jesus in us. Of course the criteria for this type of life is that we have received the Holy Spirit of God. It is the power of the Spirit that allows us to exceed our human limitations in loving others. A total dependence on God and a correct understanding of His character and nature will yield a harvest of godliness that will not go unnoticed by those around us.