February 22, 2023
Challenging Others To Live Godly Lives
Nehemiah - “After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and singers and Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.” (Nehemiah 7:1-2)
DAILY DEVOTION
Paul - “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)
Nehemiah was a godly man. He had proven it by the way he prayed, by the way he lived, by the way he reacted to the mistreatment of others, by the way he reacted to defamation against him, and by the way he treated and led others. It only makes sense that when he searched out others to work alongside him that he would look for godly people. He found what he was looking for in Hanani and Hananiah. They were known as men of integrity who lived godly lives.
Have you ever noticed that when you see people living godly lives, it makes you want to praise the Lord and makes you want to work with them? It works that way when people see us as well. When they see us living godly lives, it makes them praise the Lord and want to partner with us in whatever we are doing. The Apostle Peter writes, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God . . .” (1 Peter 2:12). And Jesus once said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
When we are looking for people to work alongside us, we should choose people who live godly lives. We can assess people’s dedication to the Lord by observing their commitment to godly living. Jerry Bridges, in The Practice of Godliness, writes, “There is no higher compliment that can be paid to a Christian than to call him a godly person. He might be a conscientious parent, a zealous church worker, a dynamic spokesman for Christ, or a talented Christian leader; but none of these things matter if, at the same time, he is not a godly person.” When a person’s godliness is evident to us, we should be quick to select them as an employee, coworker, or friend.
FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY
In your journal or on a piece of paper, write out the qualities of a godly person. Then, to the right of each quality, write the name of someone who embodies this quality. Then, to the left of each quality, place a check by each quality you believe you possess. If you’re leading your family through this exercise, have a discussion about what it means for someone to be a godly person. Then, pray and ask the Lord to help each person in your family work towards godliness and towards surrounding themselves with godly people.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, help me to always strive to be a godly person and to surround myself with godly people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.