Salt & Light: Growing in Godliness
By Brent Davis
Why Godliness?
Growth is demonstrated in relationships, resilience, endurance, virtues, and service.
Why are we here?
According to AI, we are here to live, love, create, and experience consciousness in a vast universe (Google, May 22, 2026). That is actually not too far off. The Westminster Catechism puts it this way: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” I personally like enjoying God forever better than simply experiencing consciousness in a vast universe!
In order to enjoy God, we need to be with God. But God is holy. When God appeared to the Israelites, He warned them not to get close to the mountain or they would be killed (Exodus 19). However, it was God’s intention to dwell among His people (Exodus 25: 8). Thus, they would need to be holy, to be godly. The Law of Moses helped people to be holy.
Paul instructed Timothy to train for godliness (1 Timothy 4: 8, 6: 11). Peter instructed the disciples to be holy (1 Peter 1: 15, 16). When we are connected to God, we experience a transformation that makes us fit to be with God, to be mature like Christ (Ephesians 4: 13). When we achieve maturity, godliness, holiness, we are truly blessed, or happy (Matthew 5).
But how do we become godly?
We first need to be cleansed from unrighteousness (1 John 1: 9). This is accomplished by asking forgiveness and being made just by accepting Christ as the cleansing sacrifice for our sin (Romans 5, Isaiah 53: 10, Hebrews 10).
Second, we need to start training in godliness:
Begin by considering the example of Christ. Read the Gospels, and note His life, character, and behavior.
Here are some helpful verses on training in godliness:
Following Paul’s Example
1 Corinthians 11:1
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
Philippians 3:17
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
Philippians 4:9
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
2 Timothy 3:10–11
“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings…”
2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
Paul reminds believers that they know how they “ought to imitate” him, because he gave them an example to follow.
Reading and Obeying Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16–17
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”
James 1:22
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Joshua 1:8
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night… For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Psalm 119:9–11
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word… I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Matthew 7:24
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Scripture Memorization
Psalm 119:11
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Deuteronomy 6:6–7
“These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…”
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Proverbs 7:1–3
“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you… bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Meditation on Scripture
Psalm 1:1–3
The blessed person’s “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 119:15–16
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
Psalm 119:97
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”
Psalm 143:5
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”
Prayer
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”
Philippians 4:6–7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…”
Colossians 4:2
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Ephesians 6:18
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…”
Luke 18:1
Jesus taught “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Fellowship / Life Together
Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Hebrews 10:24–25
“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together…”
1 John 1:7
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…”
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15–16
The body grows as believers speak the truth in love and each part works properly.
Colossians 3:12–17
A rich passage on compassion, forgiveness, love, peace, the word of Christ dwelling richly, teaching, admonishing, singing, and doing all in Christ’s name.
Summary Verse for Godliness Training
1 Timothy 4:7–8
“Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way…”
