This is the will of God, your sanctification… —1 Thessalonians 4:3

 

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not.

Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you. All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification.

No wonder Paul said that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ. _____________________________________________________________________

Journal DJR Good Morning Lord,

I’ve always thought and said that our goal after salvation was to become Christlike. Perhaps that’s what sanctification is? And here it says pretty clearly that’s what you want also… This is the will of God, your sanctification… —1 Thessalonians 4:3 I think where I’ve messed up is in striving to be Christlike… It has always led to failure. I think it was a “do it yourself” sanctification effort, which I can see now, is doomed to failure.

I do want you Christlike. And I’ve paid the price and paved the way and sent the power to make it happen … but it doesn’t include your willpower or religious pride of accomplishment to get it done. Stay on the track I’ve set for you… Surrender, Connection, Obedience, Curiosity about what I’m doing and going to do next, and looking and listening and then just living out of that. With that approach, you are well on your way to the Christlikeness that you desire. But it will be like a side effect…Not the thing you were striving for. There may be shame and devastation when you see the opportunities that have been missed. But those emotions will be overwhelmed by joy when you see me as I am and really see the gift you have been given. Gratitude overpowers shame and leaves you in peace, not striving.

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