May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely… —1 Thessalonians 5:23
When we pray, asking God to sanctify us, are we prepared to measure up to what that really means? We take the word sanctification much too lightly. Are we prepared to pay the cost of sanctification? The cost will be a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God’s point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God’s purpose alone. Are we really prepared for God to perform in us everything for which He separated us? And after He has done His work, are we then prepared to separate ourselves to God just as Jesus did? “For their sakes I sanctify Myself…” (John 17:19). The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God’s perspective. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us. Are we really prepared for what that will cost? It will cost absolutely everything in us which is not of God.
Are we prepared to be caught up into the full meaning of Paul’s prayer in this verse? Are we prepared to say, “Lord, make me, a sinner saved by grace, as holy as You can”? Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father (see John 17:21-23). The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit’s work in us?
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February 8, 2016
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Good morning Lord and thank You for this day and this devotional. But once again it seems as if Oswald Chambers is challenging us to grit our teeth and help ourselves become sanctified. As he says early in the devotional: “are we prepared to measure up to what that really means?” Throughout the devotional, Chambers asks if we are prepared for what it will take to become sanctified; if we are ready to be set apart. And for my part and my experience I must say no, no I am not. I neither was nor am prepared to be sanctified. And as hard as I tried I could not (or cannot) help myself with my sanctification. I can only be surrendered and connected, curious and obedient, surrendering to You in this daily process.
And God says…”This is the lesson about sanctification. Do you think that the process started by Jesus can be helped or completed by You? So very often when a believer says he is “rededicating” his or her life it is accompanied by statements of strong resolve and renewed commitment like; “I will try harder, I will use more discipline…I will be a better Christian”. The real issue is will he or she be surrendered? The issue is not one of commitment, but one of surrender. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you require, including daily, hourly, minute by minute sanctification. It is my process, I started it and I will complete it in you.”
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