The Death Side. In sanctification God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. Sanctification requires our coming to the place of death, but many of us spend so much time there that we become morbid. There is always a tremendous battle before sanctification is realized— something within us pushing with resentment against the demands of Christ. When the Holy Spirit begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle starts immediately. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate . . . his own life . . . he cannot be My disciple” ( Luke 14:26  ).

In the process of sanctification, the Spirit of God will strip me down until there is nothing left but myself, and that is the place of death. Am I willing to be myself and nothing more? Am I willing to have no friends, no father, no brother, and no self-interest— simply to be ready for death? That is the condition required for sanctification. No wonder Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword” ( Matthew 10:34  ). This is where the battle comes, and where so many of us falter. We refuse to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ on this point. We say, “But this is so strict. Surely He does not require that of me.” Our Lord is strict, and He does require that of us.

Am I willing to reduce myself down to simply “me”? Am I determined enough to strip myself of all that my friends think of me, and all that I think of myself? Am I willing and determined to hand over my simple naked self to God? Once I am, He will immediately sanctify me completely, and my life will be free from being determined and persistent toward anything except God (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24  ).

When I pray, “Lord, show me what sanctification means for me,” He will show me. It means being made one with Jesus. Sanctification is not something Jesus puts in me— it is Himself in me (see 1 Corinthians 1:30  ).

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 22, 2010

I wonder about doing the “right thing”. Is that a byproduct of being sanctified? Is that a byproduct of being a believer? Or does it just become a part of us after we are sanctified?  And if a friend or relative or church member criticizes what we do and questions our doing “the right thing” how are we to respond?

And God says…”My apostle Paul lived in the midst of his sanctification process, and he said he was often unable to do the right thing. He too found his sanctification a process of giving up on himself and relying totally on Jesus Christ. The sanctification of your current state is really not possible. The process is not a process that “makes you better”; it is the process of dying. It will end when you join me and leave your earthly body behind.

As for interpreting your “goodness” or doing the “right thing”, simply accept the fact that even if you do the right thing, you will be criticized, just like My Son. You will deserve the criticism because you are suffering with Christ. You have the honor to suffer with Him as a part of your sanctification. And when you do the wrong thing you will deserve criticism (yours and others) because you earned it. It is not natural for you to freely accept the “slings and arrows” of unfair criticism, but dooing so is an indication of sanctification and identification with Christ.

Like Jesus, you will receive slings and arrows. Trust them as indicators of sanctification and trust Me to let nothing touch you that has not first touched My hands.

Be holy even as I am holy, through Christ Jesus. Let Me see Him when I look at you.”