July 22: Sanctification - The Death Side
Oh me! The first time I read this, I should have known this lesson was not going to be an easy one from the title - it sounds like a scary movie! Chambers nailed it when he wrote, "Immediately the Spirit of God begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle begins."
Sanctification is defined as "to be holy; to be set apart for God; to be free from sin." Over the years I've discovered that it is the opposite of the natural me. When I followed the advice of the last paragraph and asked the Lord to show me what Sanctification means for me, God promptly enrolled me in His "Submission 101" class. Unfortunately, I failed the class at least three times before I was allowed to take "Submission 102." (Actually, I think I even failed the special ed remedial class!)
Chambers wisely began his lesson with a verse from I Thessalonians. Looking back, it is clear I would have been wise to read chapters 4-5 before I trying to "become holy." Verse 4:12 gives a good incentive to undertake this process: Then you will be respected by people who are not followers of the Lord, and you won't have to depend on anyone.* At the end of Chapter 5, Paul gives some practical instruction for those who want to be sanctified. I especially love the short, imperative directives of verses 16-22:
Rejoice always!
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Don't stifle the Spirit.
Don't despise prophecies, but test all things.
Hold on to what is good.
Stay away from every form of evil.**
My prayer for you is like Paul's at the end of Chapter 5: "I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. The One who chose you can be trusted, and He will do this."*
[Bible versions used: *CEV (Contemporary English Version) and ** HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Version) ]
Sanctification is defined as "to be holy; to be set apart for God; to be free from sin." Over the years I've discovered that it is the opposite of the natural me. When I followed the advice of the last paragraph and asked the Lord to show me what Sanctification means for me, God promptly enrolled me in His "Submission 101" class. Unfortunately, I failed the class at least three times before I was allowed to take "Submission 102." (Actually, I think I even failed the special ed remedial class!)
Chambers wisely began his lesson with a verse from I Thessalonians. Looking back, it is clear I would have been wise to read chapters 4-5 before I trying to "become holy." Verse 4:12 gives a good incentive to undertake this process: Then you will be respected by people who are not followers of the Lord, and you won't have to depend on anyone.* At the end of Chapter 5, Paul gives some practical instruction for those who want to be sanctified. I especially love the short, imperative directives of verses 16-22:
Rejoice always!
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Don't stifle the Spirit.
Don't despise prophecies, but test all things.
Hold on to what is good.
Stay away from every form of evil.**
My prayer for you is like Paul's at the end of Chapter 5: "I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. The One who chose you can be trusted, and He will do this."*
[Bible versions used: *CEV (Contemporary English Version) and ** HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Version) ]
posted by Jane at 4:05 AM
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