17th April 2022.

THE BELIEVER'S SANCTIFICATION Pt.6

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

WORKING OUT YOUR SANTIFICATION(D)

There's a message some persons in our generation are trying to exclude from scriptures. If they could, they would have removed it but the eternal word of God stands. What is that message? It is the aspect of scriptures that talks about suffering. In our quest to live a sanctified life, God permits suffering, trials and vicissitudes of life to prune and cleanse us. While this is what we pray against often, in God's eternal plan and purpose for the believer, there's a purpose some of our unpalatable experiences serve which we must consider scripturally. God saw them coming, yet He permitted them because there's a purpose they serve in our lives. Speaking about Jesus, the writer of Hebrews says, "In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered"( Hebrews2:10 NIV).
Jesus became the captain of our salvation through the things he suffered.

In fact, talking about the same Jesus, we were told He learnt Obedience through suffering: "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered"( Hebrews5:8). God used suffering to perfect him for the assignment. If Christ learnt obedience through suffering, then we still have many lessons to take in the school of suffering. While we don't pray for suffering in life, there are challenges permitted by God for our purification and sanctification. Listen to Job: “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold"(Job 23:10 NLT). Still don't know how you and me can become like Jesus if we are not tried and pruned. Listen to Paul in Acts 14:22, "where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God". These are the very words of the revered apostle. He suffered a lot for the Gospel. Quickly, to put in the right perspective, the suffering implied in this teaching has to do with those things we suffer because of our resolve to live for Jesus.

The beauty of sanctification will not be seen until you suffer for taking your stand for Christ in this depraved world. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted". I don't know of any man who has walked with God getting His approval without facing the trials of life. Whatever you suffer for not compromising are part of those things God uses for your sanctification. Rejoice, it is for a purpose. Apostle Peter said, 'These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world"(1 Peter 1:7 NLT). Look beyond the present, consider what God intends to achieve through that trial.