Saturday, July 30, 2011
1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
LIVE FOR "THE DAY" (6)
I hope you have enjoyed this week as we have been encouraged to live for the Day. We are reminded not to be too short-sighted, living only for the present, but rather to look ahead to the glorious Day of Christ's return and live for that day.
Paul now concludes this letter with a final word of blessing and admonition. We too pray that "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."
God has already justified us completely, declaring us perfectly righteous in Christ. Our Salvation is complete. Now we pray that He will also sanctify us completely so that our life matches what God has given and done for us. May God keep you living in faith; living according to God's will in joyful thanksgiving and constant prayer; living in fellowship with one another showing forgiving love to all; living in the beauty of God's will not in the passing pleasures of sin.
"May your whole spirit, soul, and body be PRESERVED blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." We are blameless by faith in Christ, but may we be preserved in that blamelessness -- not turning back to a life of sin.
We have his promise, "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." We can count on Him. Let us make sure we do count on Him and not go our own way.
"The Day" will be wonderful beyond compare when we will see God face to face and be reunited with our loved ones who died in the faith. Let us live every day of our lives in the faith with our focus on Christ so that, by all means, we are ready for THE DAY.
