Sanctification is both a matter of position and progression. We are sanctified because Jesus Christ has saved us and yet sanctification continues to work within to transform us unto the likeness of Christ. Sanctification is the responsibility of every believer in Christ. When we choose to pursue sanctification in our life, positive growth occurs. The pursuit of it involves the surrender of the body and the will to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It takes time and is a working progress that cannot be hurried. Like a newborn baby that gradually matures unto adulthood, so is the work of sanctification in the life of a new believer. The work of sanctification will ultimately be completed in every believer's life when Jesus Christ returns. This is the hope of every Christian.
Paul puts it best in his epistle to the Thessalonians: "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" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Reproaches have broken my heart
“Is not this the carpenter's son?”—“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”—“Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”—“He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”—“We know that this man is a sinner.”—“He is leading the people astray.”—“This man is blaspheming.”— “Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!”
“It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”—For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.—If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed.
Ps. 69:20; Matt. 13:55; John 1:46; John 8:48; Matt. 9:34; John 9:24; John 7:12; Matt. 9:3; Matt. 11:19; Matt. 10:25; 1 Pet. 2:19-23; 1 Pet. 4:14
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“It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”—For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.—If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed.
Ps. 69:20; Matt. 13:55; John 1:46; John 8:48; Matt. 9:34; John 9:24; John 7:12; Matt. 9:3; Matt. 11:19; Matt. 10:25; 1 Pet. 2:19-23; 1 Pet. 4:14
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Monday, May 11, 2009
“My sheep hear my voice.”
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”—I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one.” . . . I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.
“Speak, for your servant hears.”—And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.—Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
John 10:27; Rev. 3:20; Song 5:2, 6; 1 Sam. 3:10; Luke 19:5, 6; Ps. 85:8
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“Speak, for your servant hears.”—And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.—Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
John 10:27; Rev. 3:20; Song 5:2, 6; 1 Sam. 3:10; Luke 19:5, 6; Ps. 85:8
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Saturday, May 9, 2009
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.—When you . . . believed in him, [you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”—Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We walk by faith, not by sight.—Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Heb. 11:1; 1 Cor. 15:19; 1 Cor. 2:9, 10; Eph. 1:13, 14; John 20:29; 1 Pet. 1:8, 9; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 10:35
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“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.—When you . . . believed in him, [you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”—Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We walk by faith, not by sight.—Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Heb. 11:1; 1 Cor. 15:19; 1 Cor. 2:9, 10; Eph. 1:13, 14; John 20:29; 1 Pet. 1:8, 9; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 10:35
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.—While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.—Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!—But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”—He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.—“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”
Isa. 59:1; Ps. 138:2; Dan. 9:21; Ps. 27:9; Ps. 22:19; Jer. 32:17; 2 Cor. 1:10; Luke 18:7, 8
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“Ah, Lord God! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”—He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.—“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”
Isa. 59:1; Ps. 138:2; Dan. 9:21; Ps. 27:9; Ps. 22:19; Jer. 32:17; 2 Cor. 1:10; Luke 18:7, 8
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Monday, May 4, 2009
Little Did She Know: The Perfection of God's Providence
"Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech's family." Ruth 2:3
"She happened." Yes, it seemed nothing but an accident, but how divinely was it overruled! Ruth had gone forth with her mother-in-law's blessing, under the care of her God, to do humble and honorable toil, and the providence of God was guiding her every step! Little did she know that amid the sheaves she would find a husband, and that he would make her the joint owner of all those broad acres, and that she, a destitute foreigner, would become an ancestor of the great Messiah!
God is very good to those who trust in Him, and often surprises them with unlooked-for blessings. Little do we know what may happen to us in the future; but this sweet fact should cheer us, that nothing which is really good for us shall be withheld from us!
The word "chance" is banished from the Christian's vocabulary, for we see the hand of God in everything. The seemingly trivial events of today or tomorrow, may involve consequences of the highest importance. Take comfort--our Lord deals as graciously with all His servants as He did with Ruth!
- C. H. Spurgeon
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"She happened." Yes, it seemed nothing but an accident, but how divinely was it overruled! Ruth had gone forth with her mother-in-law's blessing, under the care of her God, to do humble and honorable toil, and the providence of God was guiding her every step! Little did she know that amid the sheaves she would find a husband, and that he would make her the joint owner of all those broad acres, and that she, a destitute foreigner, would become an ancestor of the great Messiah!
God is very good to those who trust in Him, and often surprises them with unlooked-for blessings. Little do we know what may happen to us in the future; but this sweet fact should cheer us, that nothing which is really good for us shall be withheld from us!
The word "chance" is banished from the Christian's vocabulary, for we see the hand of God in everything. The seemingly trivial events of today or tomorrow, may involve consequences of the highest importance. Take comfort--our Lord deals as graciously with all His servants as He did with Ruth!
- C. H. Spurgeon
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Friday, May 1, 2009
But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace.
To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
God has called you to peace.—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”—May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.—You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.—“Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Great peace have those who love your law.
Gal. 5:22; Rom. 8:6; 1 Cor. 7:15; John 14:27; Rom. 15:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; Isa. 26:3; Isa. 32:17, 18; Prov. 1:33; Ps. 119:165
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God has called you to peace.—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”—May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.—You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.—“Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Great peace have those who love your law.
Gal. 5:22; Rom. 8:6; 1 Cor. 7:15; John 14:27; Rom. 15:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; Isa. 26:3; Isa. 32:17, 18; Prov. 1:33; Ps. 119:165
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