Sanctification

Chosen before the foundation of the world as God's children, carrying with us our own sinful nature, we are taken through a sea of fallen humanity to endure a lifetime of struggles in order that we may be sanctified to Christ. He will introduce periods of testing that will reveal the conditions of our own hearts and challenge our faithfulness to the truths He has already shown us. Our obedience to the higher call on our lives will help us to achieve a unified spiritual body of believers.

When the comfort of our lives becomes challenged, the immediate response is to correct the list (seafarer's term) and get things back to 'normal'.

How often do we contemplate the presence of the author and finisher of our faith in circumstances that threaten the norm? If we claim to be children of God, Christ followers, why do we kick back so violently when sanctification desires its work within our lives?

Our human nature can not be discounted. It has its absolute design and purpose in the scheme of sanctification. Jesus said we would experience troubles in this world. The troubles we experience are simply the discomforts of life brought about by the Holy Spirit challenging the narrow comprehension of what we perceive as important in the lives of our humanity. When we begin to focus on where we are going instead of where we are at, we find the rabbit hole to be only a manifestation created by our fear. Troubles should be viewed as the glorious work of our heavenly Father in the lives of His children.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, in which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1,2)

PJR

"But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15)