If someone asked me what phrase epitomized my husband’s parenting as he fathered our girls, I would say,” I don’t want my girls to turn out good. I want them to be godly.” I love that, and I respect him for his desire to turn their hearts not to just good things, but to godly desires and attitudes.
The world is satisfied with good. It is enough. Having a good child means our kids aren’t into drugs. They are moral. They are honor students and respectable citizens. The world thinks if our kids turn out good we should be relieved. Whew! We got them through the hard stuff.
Would it satisfy you to know that Mary, the mother of our Lord, was a good woman? Remember that she was in need of a Savior, just as we are. She wasn’t a saint. Was she more than good? Let’s look at Scripture –
Luke 1:30 – And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. The only way we find favor in God’s eyes is to be like God – to be godly. We can only do that as we trust in Christ as our Savior. Mary couldn’t have found favor with God in simply trying to be good.
In verse 38 Mary refers to herself as the handmaid of the Lord. She saw herself as God’s servant, and was ready to do His bidding, spite the scandal or difficulty that was included with her calling.
Luke 1:46 – Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. Her words, her heart, her whole being praised God and desired to live for Him and please Him. Was she perfect? No. Was she godly? Yes.
I see Mary’s godliness as a huge factor in her being chosen to bear the Savior of the world. She wasn’t simply a “good little church girl.” She loved God passionately and it was seen in all she said and did.
That’s where I want my heart to be. It is also my prayer for my daughters. Oh, that instead of saying “good” things to others, my words would be godly ones. Instead of acting “nice” I would act Christlike. Instead of doing a good deed, my actions would be out of a sincere love for my God.
No, it’s not enough for me to be a “good woman.” It is my goal to be godly. It will be a continual process of sanctification to be like my God until He takes me home, but it is my heart’s cry today and every day. “Lord, make me more like You! Help me to turn out godly for your glory.”
With love,
RefreshHer 