Set Apart And...
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10
God’s plan, or as the verse suggests, by His will, for His children, we are sanctified - set apart, made holy, both actions in God’s domain.
Recently I was involved in a conversation about “church words.” One of the words we put out there was the word sanctified. The church uses that word often, but it’s not a word used in everyday conversation, even when we’re talking about faith. In Hebrew it means set apart for Yahweh’s use. And in this one word we see the fullness of God’s plan in His relentless desire to involve Himself in our daily lives, through the power of The Holy Spirit, to reveal Christ’s likeness. Truly the work of the Triune God!
God loves us so much that even before we were, He designed us to be His children. Everyone who has trusted Christ as Savior has been set apart by God through what Christ accomplished on the cross at Calvary. Once saved then begins the progressive or daily living sanctification.
Daily living sanctification is the Spirit’s work. Our participation in this work is to be obedient. So then this progressive sanctification is that daily process where we more and more submit our hearts, minds, and bodies to following Jesus. I admit being obedient daily is a challenge. Sometimes my will gets in the way of my efforts to be obedient. But thank God that the Holy Spirit is with us to sanctify us by working in and through us. It is the Holy Spirit that forms us to the image of Jesus Christ.
Living in God’s grace, we strive daily to grow and change, or transform. The season of Lent reminds us to reflect on being sinners who are being changed simultaneous. We can live more fully into who we are created to be by The Spirit’s power according to God’s will. Lent offers us a time to reflect on this miraculous work of God within us.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the holy work of sanctification. Holy Spirit help me to daily live and grow in grace and live as You intend. In all things I pray, not my will but Your will be done. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.