The blessings of godly behavior impact everyone around us, including ourselves. We sometimes fail because we are sinful. But godly people repent and ask the Lord to help them go in the right direction. In failure, the Lord brings humility and our need for His daily strength to be the people He has called us to be.
Psalm 106:3 Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. [1] When we act godly, we are blessed by the Lord and gain the favor of people. However, not everyone we encounter is interested in integrity. Men punished Daniel because he did what was right as he prayed to the Lord in Daniel (Ref. Daniel 6:10-12).
The work of the Holy Spirit helps us grow in traits more like Jesus, whom Paul calls fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.[2]
When Our Behavior Takes Us Down the Wrong Road
King Xerxes was the King of the Medo-Persian Empire, but his biggest problem was not foreign invaders but his character. The King gave a banquet that lasted seven days in the citadel of Susa for all the people in the city. Esther 1:8 By the king’s command, each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished. [3]
Under the influence of alcohol, the King ordered his servants to bring before them Queen Vashi, wearing her royal crown to display her beauty. Esther 1:12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then, the king became furious and burned with anger. [4] Ungodly behavior often leads to poor decisions, and the King now made one poor decision after another. Although this is just a glimpse into the life of King Xerxes, you begin to see a person whose character is a significant hindrance to his kingship. This incident makes the King appear weak and foolish. When we drift away from the Lord and His guidance, we can soon walk down the road that leads to foolish decisions and behavior.
Producing Good Fruit
We all want to live fruitful lives, but how do we do that? Jesus tells us. John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [5] The fruit of a believer is produced by a life of surrender and staying connected to the life of the vine, who is Jesus.
As believers, our strength is not enough. The most significant aspect of the Christian life is the part only our Lord sees. We find the Lord’s greatest blessings when we spend time at His feet with our Savior, who knows and loves us. To learn more about the blessings of Godly behavior, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-new-queen
[1-5] The New International Version . (2011). Zondervan.