God's will

'For this is the will of God, your sanctification...'

1 Thessalonians 4.3

Sometimes you've just gotta love how simple the bible is! Yeh, maybe the language used can often take a bit of getting used to and require checking out, but in terms of looking for God's heart, It's plain for all to see (who choose to really look).

So, God's will is for our sanctification. That we be different, holy, clean, set apart. What does that mean? It means that when the world looks at us they should see something completely different to when they look at everyone else. It means that when Christians look at us they should see something they know to be Jesus and Jesus alone. It means that when we look at ourselves we see things happening that we know go far beyond all our best efforts. But most importantly of all, it means that when God looks at us He sees someone who is daily being changed into the likeness of the one He values most - Jesus. He sees one of His children!

And what does that really mean for us? It means that when I wake up in the morning I need to make the choice to be sanctified by God. That means I go to His Word with a real desire for it to change me completely. I frequently fall to my knees in prayer, knowing that if I ask God to change me and those He loves, he always, always will, provided I follow Him. When I spend time with those who also follow, I encourage them to do the same and to look to God as the only one who can bring change. When I spend time with those who don't believe, I excite in every opportunity to be different for God, even though it may bring laughter and separation. Not by looking at how others behave and just trying to be different. But by consuming myself with a desire to follow God and God alone, to the point where I am completely different without even realising it.

That's what it means to be sanctified. Changed by God, for God. And like everything else with God ... it is absolutely the best thing for me!