Just a Thought: Building a godly reputation takes a complete commitment, courage and effort along with the power and work of the Holy Spirit. We have some work that needs to be done too. The Lord does not simply transform us into godly people when we are saved without any effort on our part. All the ingredients are present, but we must use them in order to accomplish the goal of godliness and a godly reputation. To think the Lord will do this for me without my involvement would be the same as a person buying all the ingredients to make a great cake. And then, thinking if we just assemble them on the counter, they will somehow become the cake. No. It takes one gathering the ingredients. Then, they must have the recipe for cake. But still nothing happens or is produced until someone takes the ingredients, follows the recipe and mixes everything together in the right measurements and bakes the cake. In order for you and I to rise above the influence and effect of this sin-filled world, we must gather the ingredients, follow the recipe and do the work to produce a godly life and godly reputation. Addressing believers who all possess the Holy Spirit living in them, Peter says here is the ingredients for godliness and a godly reputation. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8). Peter says alongside of your new spiritual nature (for this very reason) or since or because you have this new nature, you can apply or bring along side of it these other ingredients. And, by doing the work of adding these things to your new life, you will build and establish a godly life and thereby a godly reputation that will be effective. Building a godly reputation takes a complete commitment, courage and effort along with the power and work of the Holy Spirit. This is a truth we cannot afford to miss because without doing this, Peter says we will be ineffective and unproductive. All that we need is present. But we must bring all this alongside or to bear in and with our new lie in Christ. Are you doing what it takes today to build a godly life and a godly reputation? We have all the ingredients. We have the recipe. All that is lacking is us stepping up and with the help of the Holy Spirit and our commitment we can make something great and godly out of the new lie the Lord has given us.
