When I was asked to give a talk on this subject, I said to my
wife "I feel like a hypocrite already". She asked why ? She reminded me
that We could never hope to rival the degree of righteousness to which
Jesus was entitled. Our task is to follow Him and do His will. Aaah
yes, once again she was right. Rather than concentrating on how far
short we all fall from the ideal - we should instead (I suggest) be
concentrating on improving our love relationship with Jesus and inturn
upon doing His will, during our whole lifetime.
Be Pious. When I first
heard that term, I thought: "what"??
Piety has nothing to do with having the attitude of the
stereotypical Pharisee. Instead, Piety is a life in total connection
and communion with God. My name is David Simpson and the title of my
talk is: Life in Piety.
"Life in piety" suggests (or should be) an attitude governing
your whole life. It is not and does not center on acts, practices,
religious routines or observances. The aim of Piety is NOT to become
PIOUS, but instead to enjoy a full and open relationship with God.
God's blessings shall flow and will be evident. They are a natural
consequence of doing His will and living as He has instructed. Trusting
in Him and doing His will, will allow God to "give us all things". see:
Romans 8: 32. "He who did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with
him, graciously give us all things?" A life in piety is what
we live when we CHOOSE a relationship with God as being OUR life's
priority.
Usually at this stage of the talk a drawing is introduced
which serves to illustrate a life in grace. The drawing I use is of a
three legged stool with each leg representing: Piety, Study and Action.
Our life under God's grace will not be complete and keep us upright,
without each of these three legs being in their correct position. I
should mention at this time: piety is NOT limited to a narrow religious
aspect of one's life. It is living our life in today's world, using our
life as a demonstration of Christ's attitude and example. See:
Phil 2: 5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very
nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death --
even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.
So what I am describing to you is not an airy fairy or even
blindly devoted or fanatical worship of something which we call "God".
What I am describing is willingness to enter into a personal
relationship with our Lord Jesus.
Jesus relationship with God the Father was not just an
important part of his life. It was his life. All he did centered upon
that relationship. See: John 7: 16 and Matthew 11:
27 Jesus answered "My teaching is not my own. It comes from
him who sent me." And Matthew 11: 27 "All things
have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the
Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom
the Son chooses to reveal him." Jesus is aware of our
thoughts and motivations and he can personally identify with our
feelings. He too was at one time human. 1 Cor 2: 11 For who
among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within
him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit
of God. Highs and lows are experienced in every human
relationship. John 11: 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the
Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in
spirit and troubled.What I'm saying is: He cares.
The characteristics of any Christian's relationship should be
honesty and authenticity. We share our feelings and attitudes with
those whom we call friends and Jesus wishes to participate in that
dialogue. See: 1John 5: 14-15. This is the confidence we have
in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he
hears us. And if we know he hears us - whatever we ask - we know we
shall have what we asked of him. In an authentic relationship
we not only share honestly, we share ourselves and what is most
important to us. God gave us His best, the life of His only son, even
before we chose to come into a love relationship with him. I try to
give Him my best, in return. And that is all He asks.
So, how or what is the best way to follow through with
building such a vital and rewarding relationship? I will outline 6
points to you which I think are the best ways to go. - Prayer
- Scripture - Meditation - Worship - Communion - Spiritual
direction/guidance Many of these are interlinked and are done
simultaneously. As you know, prayer is the act of personally relating
and sharing with God - heart to heart. We cannot hide anything from God
and he does rejoice in hearing our prayers. See 1Timothy 2:
1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession
and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all
men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
At times when you least feel like praying, maybe that's when
you should be alone and pour you heart out to God. It's not like he
won't understand. Take a look at how great king David did it: See
Psalm 17: 1-3 Hear O Lord my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear
to my prayer - it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication
come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my
heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find
nothing. I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. In 1Thessalonians
5: 17-18 Paul says: "pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in
Christ Jesus." I suggest the goal of prayer is for
it to become "habitual", or in other words - part of your lifestyle.
The second point was: Scripture. Scripture
describes and reveals to us the heart and mind of God. Through learning
and contemplating Scripture, God's witness and His Spirit teaches and
nourishes us. How often have you heard a Christian say: You know I read
that bit from the bible the other day and something completely new hit
me in the face! (or words to that effect..) You know, at my house there
is always so much going on, it is difficult to read and study, let
alone contemplate scripture. I have three energetic children. Often
amongst the rush and confusion in the morning particularly, it is hard
enough finding where my bible got temporarily moved to - in order to
have my morning coffee, so I can read today's bible verse and comment
before my ride to work arrives. The pace of today sure has picked up
speed, I reckon. Maybe that underlines even more the extra effort I
should make to seek the nourishment I can receive from God's word.
When I find myself thinking like this, I have to again ask
myself: what are my priorities? Maybe I should get up earlier - I
dunno. It's not always as easy as reading a list of things to do, and
having done that expecting everything to then come together. But we can
ask (or pray) for help - I know I do.
Meditation. Meditation is focused listening
to God. this may be through prayer or Scripture reading, or both. By
the time I get home from work it's usually about 7:00pm. My wife Kaye
has had a long day with Joshua, our energetic 4.1/2yr old and the girls
(Prue & Molly aged 11 + 9yrs), are becoming tired and a bit
short tempered. Now is not a good time for them to help with tea, apart
from setting the table. Is now a good time for my meditation? No - Iv'e
got to update my home computer with the email for the day and talk with
Kaye about whatever. And I might find time to quickly log on and see if
there is any more mail. Then it's tea and the kids to bed - provided we
aren't having small group over at our house, or girl guides is on, or
it's choir practise, or we are having someone over for dinner, or there
are those phone calls or..
Being silent and listening, becoming prayerfully centered on
Jesus, is the purpose of meditation. Nowerdays it's just the arranging
and planning of your life so that private time with God can occur, but
it's worth doing.
Less TV or Internet, or cutting it out all together allows
more time for God. That's my solution - fatigue permitting
Worship. (one of my most favorite things)
Worship is the celebration of God's activity in our lives can be one of
the loudest times we proclaim "Christ is Lord". I
find the louder and more joyous my worship, the happier I become.
During this time we praise God, confess our sin's, proclaim God's Grace
and truth. I think back to the various ways it was expressed in the
Psalms: Ps 7: 17, Psalm 9: 1-2 and so on.. It's great to read them with
an attitude of praise in your heart and sing them to yourself as you
read. Psalm 7: 17 17 I will give thanks to the LORD because
of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most
High. Psalm 9: 1-2 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will
tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will
sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Communion. Communion is a celebration
which we take part in. We eat the bread and drink the wine (as Jesus
instructed), in a joyful yet solemn thanksgiving remembering we are
restored brothers and sisters who are now members of God's family. I
suppose communion is the truest form of Christian worship. Jesus said
in Luke 22: 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in
remembrance of me."
Spiritual Direction This is a relationship
with another person who is also a practicing Christian. Often this
person may be an elder, a pastor or priest. Of course friendship and
trust are experienced but also in this particular relationship
spiritual guidance is also offered. Gaining Christian council providing
a view perhaps from a different aspect, can often be really helpful.
Qualities of a Life in Piety:
- Awareness - Desire - Action - Direction - Naturalness -
Courage - Joy As we expand our relationship with Jesus, on
our Christian walk, we naturally grow in sensitivity or awareness of
God's hand, (His influence or presence) in everyday life. A desire for
a life in piety is powered by the fire of God's love in our hearts. See
how Paul expressed this in Ephesians:- 3: 14-19 For this
reason I kneel before the father, from whom his whole family in heaven
and on earth derive its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he
may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that
you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and how deep is the love of
Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may
be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Having
said all that does not mean to say that by following the steps I have
outlined will somehow make you a superman or absolutely impervious to
the darts of the evil one. We are flesh and we live in a fallen world.
But it is certainly the right way to go to move forward in our
individual Christian walk.
Referring to Paul again, a man who was so holy, who had such
prayerful and intimate communication with God - have a listen to just
how difficult that remarkable fellow found living life as a sinner:- Romans
7: 22-25 For in my inner being I delight in Gods law; but I see another
law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my
mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my
members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of
death? Thanks be God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord! A life
in piety is a whole life committed to practicing a relationship with
God. It does not make us god or physically separate us from the world.
Action. (One of my personal favorites) As
you may be aware, growing closer with God allows his love and
compassion to change us and for His love to radiate from us - affecting
others. A life in piety bears fruit in action See:- James 3:
17-18 and Romans 8: 28-31 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is
first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of
mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in
peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Romans 8: 28-31 And we know
that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he
also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined,
he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified,
he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God
is for us, who can be against us? And so again I refer to 1John
5: 14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we
ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know he
hears us - whatever we ask - we know we will have what we asked of him.
This the point I am trying to drive home. If we pray, study and work on
our relationship with Jesus, it indeed becomes more than just a
relationship - it is revealed to be a partnership. A partnership
ordained and arranged by God.John 15: 16 You did not choose
me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit
that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my
name. And: John 17: 15-18 "Father, I don't ask you
to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil
one. They don't belong to this world, and neither do I. Your word is
the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. I am sending
them into the world, just as you sent me." Remember we are
his hands and feet, let's play our part.
Direction. A life in Piety is focused on
God, the Alpha and Omega. Jesus knew he had come from God and was
returning to God. See John 13: 3 As we live in the love relationship
offered by God, we are given direction. Remember that we are citizens
of heaven waiting to take up our gracious entitlement. What a privilege
it is to be used by God.
Naturalness OR being NATURAL. God know us
better than we may be ready to admit. He knew us before we became
Christians. He doesn't want us to Separate ourselves from society and
reality, living some type of religious life style or way. He
wants us each for who we are and for the unique knowledge we each have
and can contribute to building and participating in the body of Christ.
Courage and Joy A life in piety cannot help
to exhibit the inner security and outward joy found when living in a
love relationship with Jesus. Freed from fear and filled with love we
can serve the Lord motivated by our love and gratitude for him instead
of out of a sense of duty.
So a person who is living in such a personal love relationship
with Jesus displays: awareness, desire and illustrates action. This
person has direction, is natural in appearance and to talk with and
faces life with courage. If one was to describe his appearance, you may
say joyful.
The pious life is a whole life committed to practicing a
relationship with God. Devotional practices, signs and wonders,
experiences of God are not ends in themselves. They are not the purpose
of living the way I have suggested. They are a groundwork for an
evolving process where Christ becomes alive in, preparing us to become
partners in Christ's ministry. See Matt 28: 18-20 Then Jesus
came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age."
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