I think the best way to start out here is to define what “sanctified” means. Sanctified (hagiazō in the Greek language) means to make holy or consecrated. The Bible describes three “phases” of sanctification – positional, progressive, and final. Let’s take a look at each of them. POSITIONAL SANCTIFICATION: As believers, when the Holy Spirit brings us to life spiritually, … Read More
Tear Down the Walls
Have you ever had a passage be so familiar to you that, in the “knowing”, you lose the meaning and the purpose for which the passage was written? That was the case for me as I read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 this morning in one of the devotional plans I have been reading. I think that as humans, we sometimes tend … Read More
How’s Your Reputation?
Have you ever read a portion of Scripture that really made you pause and look within yourself to examine your life? Well, that happened to me as I read 1 Thessalonians 1 today. I was struck by the reputation of the people of the city of Thessalonica as described by Paul. Their work was produced by faith. Their labor was … Read More
Holding People at Arm’s Length
I’m tellin’ ya…1 Thessalonians is full of good stuff! If any of you know me well, you will know that I am a loner at heart, but once again God is reinforcing that there’s more to living the life of a believer than my on-going relationship with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. In chapter two of 1 … Read More
When It Snows in April
Every now and then I enjoy looking back through my old journal entries to see what God was teaching me back then and if I am still living out what He taught me. Today was such an occasion. Here is a journal entry from April 15, 2014. “So, I was thinking just now as I looked out the window and … Read More
It’s Time to Get Rid of That
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”~~1 Peter 2:1-3~~ As this passage begins with “therefore”, let’s look at what the “therefore” is there … Read More