Saturday, January 12, 2008

Who is Aspiring Godliness?

My closest friend will likely laugh at this next thought but I have to share it anyway (I know she doesn't laugh to jest, only in agreement). I am easily frustrated with tasks that do not have a purpose or at least a purpose I have determined as worthwhile. Oh, I know, blogging has all sorts of purposes but I guess I think there has to be a purpose within the purpose. Let me explain, no, let be sum up (The Princess Bride)....It would be "okay" to have a blog to express my everyday life (although uneventful most of the time) but what would be the real purpose in that. Are people all that interested in reading the ramblings of wife and mother about her not too exciting life? (My friends with blogs have much more interesting lives than mine and sometimes I live vicariously through them.) Probably not! I am sure those that would be interested are my closest friends and family who would visit my blog to be nice and supportive, which is great, I guess. But I want more; I always want more....
You see, I've never been one for small talk. Don't get me wrong, I can do it but I am quickly bored with it. I am not all that funny (or at least I don't think I am, especially in verse) so I don't think my posts will bring on the giggles, let along the belly shakes (but hope to bring a smile every now and then) as my friends are excellent at doing. I want more....
I don't read the "popular"books or books just to go blah (although I have read a few books I would consider "mind candy" but reserve those for "before bed" to go to sleep by) and wouldn't know what to do with myself in most book clubs. I don't read newstand magazines or the like as I am not that interested in who the world says is important and that's what I should be attaining to. I want more...
"All right, get on with it already!" I can hear you saying. What DO you WANT? I want depth. I want meaning. I want purpose. I want to be changed and I want to help others change. I want to be more like God. I want to be more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more patient (especially with my family), more kind, more good (not correct English but appropriate in this context), more faithful (especially toward my responsibilities to God), more gentle, more self-controlled.
Colossians 3:23-25 says "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." In context, these verses come after Pauls exhortation to wives to submit to husbands, husbands to love wives and slaves obey masters. So verses 23-25 could be interpreted solely in relation to our work, job, profession, hiho, hiho, it's off to work I go... But I understand these verses to be more than that. Again, in context, Paul says in verse 17, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do EVERYTHING in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (emphasis added)
I am certainly not a biblical scholor or inspired preacher and there is much more in the letter to the Colossians than I could possibly tackle in this forum but I think this explains a little of what I am getting at. We, professing believers and children of God, are to do EVERYTHING in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. "Everything" doesn't leave anything excluded. My whole life is to be done in the name of the Lord, for HIS GLORY!
I am not even close to this thus the reason for my blog title but by heart's loudest cry and desire is to obtain "this", only to know I will not fully attain this on this side of heaven. And what is "this" you might ask. In short, GODLINESS! I Timothy 6:11 says, "But as for you, O man (or woman) of God, flee these things. (See prior verses) Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." Godliness is only one of the things in the list Paul exhorts for us to pursue but I think godliness, in light of entire scripture, sums up what we are to aspire to.
Are you aspiring godliness? I hope so, but if not, let me encourage you to begin; begin now (Hebrews 3:13). "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:6
So back to the beginning... I found my purpose in creating and maintaining a blog. "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." I Thessalonians 5:11 I am tired of feeling like I am walking this journey alone. I want to know you are on this journey with me. This journey is difficult; I want to be able to share my struggles and victories and I want to know yours. So, if you are aspiring godliness, let me know who you are. I am looking forward to what God will do for us as we encourage and build each other up.

2 comments:

Dawn's Daily Journal said...

Wahoo!!!! Welcome to the blogging world my friend!!! I just put you on my favorites list so now I can come on over here and see what cha' got going on. Don't worry about being funny or "on" all the time. Just do the blog how you want and the rest will follow. I am sure that what you write will make us all think and ponder some of the things we have going on in our own lives and that is always a good thing.
Have a wonderful day!!!
dawn

Anonymous said...

I suppose to say that you are anything short of amazing would be an understatement! Like you I aspire for Godliness, but unlike you, always fall short of where I should be. I am grateful you started this blog and hope that I can follow along. You are so strong and brave in all you do. I do not doubt in the least that you will be an inspiration to many more than myself. I love you...