Teaching

QUALITIES TO DEVELOP AS A WOMAN OF GOD - PART 5
by Linda Christine Mumba

Read 2 Peter 1 - We are instructed to add to our faith Godliness.

GODLINESS _ Eusebeia (Greek) = piety, holiness, a deep seated loyalty and devotion that affects our conduct and commitment to spiritual duties and practises.
"The great characteristic of Eusebeia is that it looks in two directions.
The person who has Eusebeia always correctly worships God and gives Him His due; but he always correctly serves his fellow-men and gives them their due".

Read Proverbs 31:10-31
Throughout the whole of this passage we see that she is a Godly woman in her relationship to God and to those around her.

In verse 30 it states ‘Charm and grace are deceptive and beauty is vain ( because it is not lasting), but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised’.

In verse 20 we see that ‘ she opens her hands to the poor; yes, she reaches her filled hands to the needy ( whether in body, mind or spirit).

In verse 26 we see that ‘ she opens her mouth with skilful and godly wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness - giving counsel and instruction’.

In verse 27 we see that ‘ she looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent and self-pity) she will not eat’.

The Bible is our instruction manual on how to live a life that pleases God.

There are two sides to Godliness which run parallel to the first two commandments, Jesus describes these in Matthew 22:37-38

" Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

1) Godliness towards God

Do we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind?
The godly woman does not take the easier route if it is offending to God or destructive to others.

Are there areas where we are not putting Him first, maybe areas of compromise in our lives ie: honesty, integrity, purity.

Do we reverence God, do we have a fear of God that affects our conduct and glorifies God. Proverbs 8:13 ‘ The fear of the Lord is to hate evil’.
Do we worship God and glorify Him in our thoughts and speech?

In Malachi we see that God is interested in what people say about Him.

Read Malachi 3:13 -18

Do we keep short accounts with God? If not this affects our relationship with Him and leave us feeling condemned .
He loves us and knows that if we live life His way we will be alot happier and more fulfilled.’

In 1 John 1:9 it states that," If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness".

In John 14:15 Jesus says "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

John 14:21 " He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me".

Jesus is saying that our love for God is real if we obey Him. Its not just a feeling.

Read Matthew 22:36-40

How do we develop our love for God and desire to obey Him?

Our love for God will grow as we spend time with Him through prayer and the Word.
If we know His character and His love for us, we will desire to live a life that pleases Him. Ask God to fill you with His desires and a knowledge of His love.
Ephesians 3:14-21 - guideline of how to pray.

The bible says that God is love. 1 John 4:8 so if we want to know what He is like we need to look at the definition of love.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

2) Godliness towards people

The second commandment is to love your neighbour as yourself.
In John 15:12 Jesus says "This is my commandment , that you love one another as I have loved you".

In 1 Peter 1:22 we are instructed "love one another deeply, from the heart".

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Do we speak well of people? In James 1:26 it states," If any one thinks himself to be religious - piously observant of the external duties of his faith - and does not bridle his tongue, but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).
Ephesians 4:29 ‘ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers’.

Do we express the love of God in our actions towards others? In James 1:27 it states
"External religious worship (religion as it is expressed in outward acts) that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world".

1 John 3:16 states "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers".

In Romans 13:10 the way we should act towards others is summed up" Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law".

How do we develop godliness towards others?

You first need to learn to know how to love yourself ie: see yourself how God sees you, be patient with yourself. When you sin confess it to God then forgive yourself too, believing that God has cleansed you from all unrighteousness. If you are not secure in yourself you will not be able to rejoice with others when they do well because it makes you feel even worse about yourself. Do not compare yourself to others.

Ask God to fill you with His love and compassion for others.

Practise doing what is right on purpose as an act of your will.

Know the word so it is stored up in your heart and the Holy Spirit can bring it to remembrance when you need it. It will then become a stronger voice than the voice of your flesh.

Instructions for Godly living

For further study read the pastoral letters Ie.Ephesians, Philippians, Titus, Thessalonians, Colossians and see how we are to live a godly life.
Write down those verses that God highlights and begin to develop those things in your life.