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?______________________________________________February 8, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, it was ten days ago that you taught us that we could best pursue sanctification as we engaged others with the gospel of our lives, that pursuing sanctification for the sake of sanctification was a selfish act. Today we read that sanctification can be pursued but it is very costly. I am a bit confused.

And God says…”Pursuing for the sake of being righteous is by itself a selfish pursuit. And pursuing sanctification so you can enhance your peace or personal feelings and wellbeing is also pointless and selfish. However, it is My will for you to pursue an
intimate relationship with Me, through Jesus, and for us to be connected. Sanctification will follow being connected and you will take on the likeness of Christ as you live out the Gospel for others. As a result of this kind of living,  and giving that  can only come from the inside out, you will have peace and life more abundantly. It is the priority of the relationship that is always at issue. Do not pursue the outcomes of peace, good feelings, health, and wellbeing. Simply pursue our intimate relationship, and everything else will follow…..or not. When you are connected, you will notice that it does not matter what else may……. or may not follow.”