godly vs wicked

Godliness is one of the steps that God wants us to get to in our road to maturity.  It is a matter of attitude above obedience.  The opposite of godliness is wickedness.

Jesus, the epitome of godliness, said, "“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." John 5:19

To hear God like Jesus the Son did, we need to ask for God to give you wisdom. (James 1:5)  You need the right wisdom (James 3:13-17).

Again, He said: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." John 8:28

In contrast, here is Satan's example of wickedness:
' How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!  You said in your heart,  “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;  I will make myself like the Most High.”  But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Isaiah 14:13-14

When Satan tempts Jesus to his face, we see the contrast:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:1-4

Satan showed his attitude of self-sovereignty; Jesus showed his humility to God the Father.  David was a man after God's own heart because in every major decision, he sought God's guidance.  Solomon, his son, was given wisdom that he asked for -- but it went to his head.  He was corrupted by an attitude of self-sovereignty.  Israel was broken up after his death because his son perpetuated that attitude.  How wicked have we become because of our abundance?

Too often our old nature comes out with its wickedness and jams out our communications with God.   "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.  For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.  Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things."  Isaiah 59:1-3

When we arise and say, "Good morning, Lord" and we get no answer, we need to check back where wicked self-will has crept in.  As we seek our sins & iniquities, God will help us.  When we get it straightened out, we enter into his peace and joy.  How many of us want that?

edited: August 04, 2017         orderofsaintpatrick.org/godly-vs-wicked.htm