20 November | EVERYONE
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5: 23,24
What does it mean to be holy? Who sanctifies you? It is not you; it is not your effort; it is not your self-control. Sanctification is not the result of human effort. It is God who sanctifies you. Paul makes it noticeably clear here that it is God who sanctifies us "completely."
Many believe that the forgiveness of sins, which we theologically call justification, is a completely divine work, while sanctification, consisting of spiritual growth, requires human participation. However, the Bible teaches that the entire work of salvation, including justification, sanctification, and glorification, is God’s work. The only thing left for the human being to do is accept it or reject it. That is why Paul adds: "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." Who is calling you? Jesus. You and I walked on our sad road of perdition until the day Jesus sought us out, found us, and called us. And who will finish the work He began in us? Jesus. That is why there is no salvation except in Christ Jesus.
And how does this marvelous work of sanctification work? It encompasses the whole being: "spirit, soul, and body," which are mental, emotional, and physical faculties. God works by sanctifying the mind. He cleanses, transforms, and purifies it. The result of this work reaches the whole being. The thief stops stealing and becomes an honest person. The alcoholic gives up the habit and becomes a free man. But that work is divine and not human. Do not try to do it alone, because the result will be defeat and frustration.
The Greeks believed that the body was evil and the mind good, but Paul states that the human being cannot be divided. There is a correlation between thoughts, emotions, and attitudes. Your mind must be sanctified so that your body will be sanctified as well. And all that work is God’s.
Take Action
Are you tired of struggling with your defeats and unfulfilled commitments? Do not fight alone anymore. Remember that Jesus is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2). Accept God's promise today.