You Are Faithful To Do It

written by Haley King, Children & Family Ministries Coordinator (April 11, 2023)

Christ died, was buried, and resurrected! Oh what a joyous event we reflect on and celebrate every year! But the story doesn't stop there. God wants you looking and living for His return! I want to draw your attention to 1 Thessalonians. The major theme throughout 1 Thessalonians is the coming of Jesus. Paul's letter celebrates a flourishing church. In spite of the suffering and persecution they were facing, their commitment to Jesus stood strong. Paul encourages them to keep looking for the return of Jesus who will set everything right. Paul also encourages the Thessalonians to continue in the work that God has started in them. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 says — “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 

What a comfort that we serve the God of peace. I’m sure someone reading this blog is walking through some difficult things and you need the God of peace. The same God that died and was raised to new life is the same God of peace mentioned in verse 23. He wants to sanctify all of you -- spirit, soul and body.  What exactly is sanctification? Sanctification is the process of becoming holy by becoming more like Jesus. Becoming more and more of who God has created us to be and saved us to be. We are saved from sin to walk in righteousness and to experience new life in Christ. Sanctification is not something that we are able to do on our own, but it is the work of God in us as we allow him. 

Paul specifically prays for the sanctification of the Thessalonians! Paul not only prays for their spiritual sanctification but he prays for sanctification in their body, soul, and spirit. We would be foolish to think that we can let God consume the spiritual part of us but not affect the other aspects of our lives. The Christians' prayer for himself and for other believers is that we would allow God to fulfill the work that he has begun in us, so that we may be preserved blameless until He comes again!  Christ must control more than just the "religious" side of us; he wants our body, soul, and spirit.

As we look forward to His coming, don’t we all want to be blameless? Don’t we want to be walking in holiness? Don’t we want to be like Him? Just like Paul prayed these words over the Thessalonians, let us pray specifically for God to do it in each of our lives. 

God, we pray that today you would make each of us look more like Jesus. God, do it in the lives around us. Sanctify us completely, God, our thoughts, our desires, our words, our deeds, our motives, every part of who we are. We know that you are faithful to do it.  Amen.