I Timothy 2:2b

"... that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

Quiet, peaceable lives. This is what we're to lead as Christians. Not showy, not prominent, not boisterous, not demanding, not attention-getting, not angry, not hostile, not wrathful, not cantankerous, not disturbing, but quiet and peaceable lives; that's what I'm called to live. But the other kind is so attractive in our culture; they get all of the attention. That's the problem; they get all of the attention. None of this attention is due us. All attention is due God.

The opposite of godliness and reverence is ungodliness and irreverence. This means that the kind of adjectives describing the kind of life that isn't quiet and peaceable is just that, irreverent and ungodly. It's irreverent because it detracts from the Creator and emphasizes the creation. It's ungodly because the one being worshiped is the ungodly and not the One who Created the creation without corruption.

How do I do this; live this life that is? In the same way that Jesus did. He spoke not of Himself or for Himself, but of God and for God. Nothing He said or did was on His own initiative, but only from the Father. (cf. John 12:49) This sounds so simplistic; o' but it is. For me, this means keeping my mouth shut more often than opening it. Think before speaking. I have a new heart in Jesus, therefore when it's aligned with the will of the Father (through mind saturated thoughts from the Word and by prayer) I can pause before doing or saying, and act and utter things that Jesus might or God would direct. For example, I notice that Jesus rarely directly answered anyone's questions in the New Testament, but rather answered the question behind the question. To listen with that kind of intensity requires a quiet and gentle spirit. 'Slow down, Tom, listen, listen, listen, and then speak the things that are spoken from God.' Jesus was also very deliberate in what He did, and usually didn't do anything without first praying it through. He hesitated. 'Slow down, Tom, hesitate and pray, then proceed.'

Impulsive living and speaking leads to undisciplined ungodliness and irreverence. Today I pray I'll be prayerful and mindful to and of God to live a quiet, peaceable life.