Psalm 87

What a Privilege !  To be the Chosen of God...

A Song [psalm of the Son’s of Korah]

        1      His foundation is in the holy mountains...

          2     The Lord  loves the gates of Zion – more than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.

          3     Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.     Selah

       4     “I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me—

               Behold,  Philistia and  Tyre with  Ethiopia:

               ‘This one was born there.’ ”

          5     But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the

               Most High Himself will  establish her.

        6     The Lord will count when He  registers the peoples, “This one was born there.”  Selah

       7     Then those who  sing as well as those who  play the flutes shall say,

              “All my  springs of joy are in you.”

Every benefit and blessing comes to those who have chosen to serve the one true Living God. 

The benefits of growing in godliness are fruitfulness, assurance, perseverance, and eternal blessings.  Jesus replied in Matthew 9:28-29,

“Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”

TO TRULY KNOW CHRIST, YOU WILL WANT TO BE USEFUL AND FRUITFUL IN SERVING HIM.  If God has opened your eyes to the glory of the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6) so that you have come to know Him—your life will show it. You will be growing in godly character. 

You will be seeking to make your life useful and fruitful to the Master who shed His blood to redeem you. If you’re not living with a view to how God can use you to bear fruit for His kingdom, then you’re wasting your life.  To not grow in godliness, you may be forgetting your cleansing and purification from your former sins. 
Growing in godliness requires the Fruits of the Spirit to be present in us. 

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Gentleness and Self-Control.   Galatians 5:16