Few books have touched my heart and my soul more than this splendid work written by the Puritan, Thomas Watson. The Godly Man's Picture is a book written to implore God's people to a life of godliness. This will be my fourth reading trough this little book and I am both deeply saddened at my own sinfulness and also encouraged to pursue godliness each time I read it. I will, from time to time, offer some thoughts and comments here on my web journal as I read through it.

In the opening pages of the book the author sets out to establish his purpose for writing this book. There is an interesting quote worth considering found on the opening page:

Godliness consists in an exact harmony between holy principles and practices

As one who is prone to reading deeper works of theology and filling my head with all sorts of theoretical information I need to be reminded often that the Christian life is more than theology and the pursuit of knowledge. The Christian life, if genuine, is one that lives each hour in a rabid pursuit of godliness -- a life that marries the knowledge with the practice. This simple thought often brings great fear into my own heart. I love knowledge and often purse it with a tenacity that no other pursuit enjoys. Yet, I often wonder if my pursuit of godliness is equally evident. I see a great chasm in my own life in this area. Does my godliness look like that kind of harmony that Watson is talking about? Often, I fear, it does not.

Later he writes:

This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts. Other speculations and quaint notions are nothing to the soul.

This grand business the author is speaking of is this pursuit of godliness. Yet, how often do we, as God's people, spend so much time pursuing other unimportant things? We spend countless hours doing things that do not last. Sure, we have our lives and the "tyranny of the urgent" often strikes all of us from time to time. However, do we really consider this pursuit as valuable and worthwhile? I wonder that about myself quite often. Furthermore, what types of disciplines can all of us employ in our pursuit of godliness? One thing is for certain, if we do not desire godliness we will certainly never arrive at that destination. One who does not desire godliness must surely examine the foundation of their profession of faith and ask if it is truly legitimate. Many false sons reside in the Church but only those who desire and seek for godliness are truly owned by Christ. Do you desire godliness? Do I?

Think about it.