Sanctify Us, Dear Jesus

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)

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. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Devotion:

Sanctification is one of the most beautiful and mysterious works of God in the believer’s life. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul offers a prayer that reveals not only the depths of God’s involvement in our lives, but also assures us of His persistent faithfulness: “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. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

Paul begins by addressing God as “the God of peace,” reminding us that true sanctification is not born from striving or self-improvement, but from the One who brings wholeness and peace into our fragmented lives. God’s sanctifying work is comprehensive. Paul doesn’t just wish partial holiness for us, but a sanctification “through and through.” This phrase assures us that God desires every part of our being—our thoughts, emotions, actions, and even the physical aspects of our lives—to be set apart for Him.

Notice that Paul prays for the sanctification of our “whole spirit, soul, and body.” This reflects the holistic nature of God’s restoring work. He is not merely interested in our spiritual life, but in the entirety of who we are. Our bodies, often seen as weak or flawed, are also included in God’s plan. The soul, which encompasses our mind, will, and emotions, is just as important. And of course, the spirit, the innermost part of our being, is made alive to God. In this way, sanctification is a process that touches every dimension of our existence. It is both a position we are given in Christ and a transformation we experience daily.

Paul’s prayer continues with a plea for blamelessness “at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The return of Christ is our hope and our motivation. God’s sanctifying work is not just for our present benefit, but it also prepares us for eternity with Him. Even more comforting is the assurance in verse 24: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” Sanctification is ultimately God’s work, not ours. Our role is to surrender, cooperate, and trust in His unfailing faithfulness. We may struggle, falter, and find weaknesses in ourselves, but it is God who began the good work and who will bring it to completion.

What does this mean for our daily lives? It means we can rest in the assurance that God is actively working in us, even in moments when we feel far from holy. It calls us to submit every part of our lives to Him—our thoughts, habits, relationships, and bodies. It encourages us to pursue holiness not as a burden, but as a response to God’s love and grace. And above all, it reminds us that we are not alone; the God who calls us is faithful, and He will do it. Let us, then, invite Jesus to sanctify us completely, trusting in His power to make us blameless until He returns.

Prayer:

            Lord, sanctify us in all our ways. Lead us, Lord, in the way of peace. Open our hearts to share the gospel with those we know and those we don’t know Jesus. Make us active in our faith so that we can sanctify the world where we are. Let us be a light to those who walk in darkness. May we be preservative in our culture. May we want the things that you want. Let us live prayerful and holy lives. Amen.