May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 23
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
This is a tough time of year for us to be worrying about being pure and blameless in the eyes of God. Temptations abound, and we are faced with an endless stretch of eating, drinking, and buying that is unparalleled at other times of the year. Some of us might even worry about falling out of God’s favor as indulgence invites us to engage in semi-riotous living. Paul knew better than to heap that burden on his friends. He knew that if it were all up to us, we wouldn’t stand a chance on the road to repentance. We’d fall off the wagon at the first hint of temptation! Paul told the folks in Thessalonica that he was praying for them, and that God would be in charge of change in their lives. And because what Paul wrote is true, any of us can become the person God has programmed us to be. Not because our own will, but because the Spirit of God is continually refurbishing our spirits and souls. So if God has planted an image of our better self in our minds, we shouldn’t be concerned, because as Paul wrote, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” We don’t have to “prepare to meet our Maker.” That’s the Spirit’s job, and it’s being taken care of.
Thought for the Day: What does my “better self” look like?
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