Help to Accomplish Your Purpose

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV)

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.


Reflection

In today’s reading, Paul is giving his closing remarks in his first letter to the people of Thessalonica. The people of the church were struggling and in need of reassurance about death, as well as what their destiny would be at Christ’s second coming. Taken out of context, it was hard for me to grasp what Paul was trying to convey through this passage. 

Spirit – Soul – Body. What else is there? Don’t these three elements pretty much account for all of what we are made of? What does Paul mean when he says this totality of us may be kept blameless? 

I then read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, and it became so much clearer to me. I thought about how the Ten Commandments set a strong framework for living a righteous and holy life. But as I strive for sanctification through Jesus, I realize there is so much more to it. The verses preceding today’s scripture paint a beautiful and glorious picture of how to embrace holiness as a way of life!

Verse 5:12 - Respect others
Verse 5:13 - Be at peace
Verse 5:14 - Admonish, encourage, help, be patient
Verse 5:15 - Seek to do good
Verse 5:16 - Rejoice 
Verse 5:17 - Pray without ceasing
Verse 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances
Verse 5:19 - Do not quench the Holy Spirit
Verse 5:20 – Do not despise prophecies
Verse 5:21 - Test everything
Verse 5:22 - Abstain from evil

If we embrace these attributes with all of our spirit, soul, and body, we will undoubtedly feel God’s sanctification over our lives. Easier said than done, though! I see in myself too many instances where my body is obedient, but my spirit or soul is struggling. What good is it, if I smile and treat someone with kindness, but inwardly harbor resentment or impatience? Just remember, I am a work in progress, as are you. All God expects from us is to follow His lead, and to mindfully strive to live a life where these traits are front and center in our day-to-day interactions with others. 

 
Action Steps

Take a few minutes and read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. Do you feel your spirit, soul, and body are in sync with some of these traits? Is your spirit, soul, and/or body struggling with some of the listed traits? Take an inventory to determine which of the listed attributes you think you need to work on the most. Pray and thank God for being faithful in His promises to you.
 

Prayer
  
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for Your faithfulness. Over and over again, You remind me through Your word that Your sanctification is worth striving for. Please help me to continually find ways to let the light of Jesus impact my spirit, soul, and body so that others may see Your love and peace in me. Amen.