God Himself
by Kaycee Daniels
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
When Paul writes, "May God Himself ...”, I read it as a double underline. Paul is emphasizing that this is our God, a God of safety, quietness, and tranquility. I look into my own soul and, admittedly, I am often not a tranquil person. We live in turbulent times, and over the past several years, my family has experienced much heartache. Peace has been hard to come by.
But "God Himself, the God of peace."
It doesn't matter what's going on around us. He is at work to sanctify us through and through. He endeavors constantly to purify, cleanse, and conform us to His image. How comforting it is to know that despite what we see outside and within, our Abba is working to make us blameless as we await the return of His Son to claim His own.
The next verse adds confirmation. "The One Who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." Throughout 1 Thessalonians, Paul urges us to live lives of honor, courage, and moral integrity, but ultimately, it's our God of peace who will bring us to a place of blamelessness.
The latter verses of Away in A Manger contain the line, "Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there." I love the idea of being made fit for heaven. May we be worthy of the calling to which we've been called.
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
When Paul writes, "May God Himself ...”, I read it as a double underline. Paul is emphasizing that this is our God, a God of safety, quietness, and tranquility. I look into my own soul and, admittedly, I am often not a tranquil person. We live in turbulent times, and over the past several years, my family has experienced much heartache. Peace has been hard to come by.
But "God Himself, the God of peace."
It doesn't matter what's going on around us. He is at work to sanctify us through and through. He endeavors constantly to purify, cleanse, and conform us to His image. How comforting it is to know that despite what we see outside and within, our Abba is working to make us blameless as we await the return of His Son to claim His own.
The next verse adds confirmation. "The One Who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." Throughout 1 Thessalonians, Paul urges us to live lives of honor, courage, and moral integrity, but ultimately, it's our God of peace who will bring us to a place of blamelessness.
The latter verses of Away in A Manger contain the line, "Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there." I love the idea of being made fit for heaven. May we be worthy of the calling to which we've been called.
Dearest Father, grant us the peace that only you can supply. Make us fit for heaven that we might bring honor and glory to Your Name. Amen.
Return to blog.ehwc.org for a new Advent devotional December 1-25!