READ THIS: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?
Let's talk about sanctification! It's a fancy church word, and it can sometimes feel difficult to understand, but the truth is that you're working on your sanctification right now! Sanctification is a word that describes the process of being made holy, or set apart.
Anyone who gives their life to Jesus is justified, or saved, by Jesus... But what happens after that? Something tells me there were people in Thessalonica asking themselves the same question! That's where sanctification comes in. Paul tells them that it is God's will for them that they would be sanctified, or set apart! But how are they supposed to do that, and how are we supposed to do that? Verse 1 gives us the answer in this phrase: more and more.
Sometimes it is easy for us to think we are doing good at the whole "Christian" thing. We read our Bible, we go to church, and we pray at night before bed. Is that what makes us holy? Is that what sets us apart? Maybe... but, kind of ironically, there's something more to it! Sanctification starts with us taking all of the things that we have learned and longing to do them more and more!
In this passage, it can look like saying no to temptation more, giving more of your time to Jesus, or growing more humble and dependent on Jesus's help rather than trusting your own abilities. Let me make it clear: doing more and more isn't what gets you into heaven, but it can make you stand out in the crowd and look like Jesus wherever you go. The goal of sanctification isn't to give more of your own effort... it's to allow more of Jesus to enter into your life! Verse 7 tells us that God calls us to live a holy life, and this is how we can start doing it!
THINK ABOUT IT:
1. Is there an area of your faith that you feel like you can slack in? What would it look like to give even just a little bit more to Jesus?
2. Do you sometimes feel like doing more will earn you heaven? How can you remind yourself in those moments that Jesus already paid the price for you?
TRY THIS:
Check out this great reminder from Ephesians 2 that we are saved by grace, not by our works or effort!
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
This really encourages me to spend more time in prayer with Jesus, just talking to Him and asking Him what He wants me to do today.
ReplyDeleteThat’s awesome!!! We think it’s a great goal to spend time throughout our days conversing with Jesus! - Liz and Dan
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