Marks Of A Godly Man
The one who believes God is his God, and that all providences work for his good, patiently yields himself to the will of God. Thus faith is a living principle. The life of a saint is nothing else but a life of faith. His prayer is the breathing of faith (Jas. 5:15). His obedience is the result of faith (Rom. 16:26). A godly man lives in Christ by faith, as the beam lives in the sun: “...I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...” (Gal. 2:20).
Set Against Sin
The godly set themselves against evil, both in purpose and in practice. They are fearful of what looks like sin (1 Thes. 5:22). The appearance of evil may prejudice a weak Christian. If it does not defile a man’s own conscience, it may offend his brother’s conscience; and to sin against him is to sin against Christ (1 Cor. 8:12). A godly man will not go as far as he may, lest he go further than he should. A godly man dare not vary from the pattern which God has shown him in the Scripture.
Love for the Word
A godly man loves the written Word and shows his love…
1) By diligently reading it. The noble Bereans “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24). A godly man’s heart is the library to hold the Word of God; it dwells richly in him (Col. 3:16). The Word has a double work: to teach us and to judge us. Those who will not be taught by the Word, shall be judged by the Word. Oh, let us make ourselves familiar with the Scripture!
2) By frequently meditating on it. “…It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97). A pious soul meditates on the truth and holiness of the Word. He not only has a few transient thoughts – but leaves his mind steeping in the Scripture. By meditation, he sucks honey from this sweet flower, and ruminates on holy truths in his mind.
3) By delighting in it. It is his recreation. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart…” (Jer. 15:16). Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved, as the prophet did in the Word. And indeed, how can a saint choose but take great pleasure in the Word? All of his eternal hopes are contained in it.
4) By hiding it. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psa. 119:11). Many hide the Word in their memory – but not in their heart. And why would David enclose the Word in his heart? “That I might not sin against Thee.” As a man would carry an antidote about him when he comes near an infected place, so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin. Why have so many been poisoned with error, others with moral vice – but because they have not hidden the Word as a holy antidote in their heart?
5) By preferring it above most precious things. (a) Above food. “…I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). (b) Above riches. “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Psa. 119:72). (c) Above worldly honor. Memorable is the story of King Edward the Sixth. On the day of his coronation [at the age of nine], when they presented three swords before him, signifying to him that he was monarch of three kingdoms, the king said, “There is still one sword missing.” On being asked what that was, he answered, “The Holy Bible, which is the ‘Sword of the Spirit’ and is to be preferred before these ensigns of royalty.”
6) By conforming to it. The Word is his sundial, by which he sets his life, the balance in which he weighs his actions. He copies out the Word in his daily walk: “…I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Paul kept the doctrine of faith, and lived the life of faith.
Devotion to Prayer
A godly man is a praying man. “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee” (Psa. 32:6). Prayer is the soul’s traffic with heaven: God comes down to us by His Spirit, and we go up to Him by prayer. A godly man cannot live without prayer: a man cannot live unless he takes breath, nor can the soul unless it breathes forth its desires to God. As soon as the babe of grace is born, it cries; no sooner was Paul converted but, “Behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9:11).
A godly man is every day upon the mount of prayer; he begins the day with prayer: before he opens his shop, he opens his heart to God. He engageth in no business without seeking God. A godly man consults God in everything.
– Adapted. Thomas Watson (1620 – 1686) was a Puritan preacher and author.
This article is provided by permission of Herald of His Coming: heraldofhiscoming.org
