Sanctification

JESUS SPEAKING

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15: 1 – 5)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Jesus uses an agricultural illustration known as pruning to explain the biblical process referred to as sanctification. Pruning is the practice of cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems to promote healthier and more fruitful plant growth. Similarly, sanctification entails removing any decaying or unproductive practices from our lives. After making an initial decision to repent and to embrace the faith, we are then grafted into Jesus Christ (the vine through which all of our spiritual nourishment is delivered.) Over the course of many weeks, months, and even years, God prunes us; trimming away the remaining segments of our existence that are unfruitful.

This process of sanctification is remarkably similar to the purification of precious metals. Within a refinery, the raw materials are placed into a kiln and heated until they melt. The dross, or worthless impurities combine with flux and separate from the metal; these impure metals, known as slag, rise to the surface; this thin layer is then skimmed off, leaving the purified metal beneath. Without this continuous process of heating, melting, and skimming, purification could never occur. As additional impurities are removed from the molten ore, a more precise reflection of the metal worker appears in the smooth, pure, surface beneath. We too are being sanctified each day; an ongoing process of purification that causes God’s reflection to become clearer in our lives, and more apparent to those around us.

When we repent and believe in Christ, our lives are immediately transformed. And yet, although we’ve been reborn, we must also undergo a process of sanctification. Over time, the thorns and dead branches that prevent us from being a precise reflection of God are removed. As the Vinedresser, the Lord is the one who accomplishes this pruning. Only He has the power to mold us into the image of His Son. May we lay down our own selfish wants and desires to be transformed by God, that we might become even more fruitful.

“Lord Heavenly Father, continue pruning us every day. Trim away the dead and unfruitful portions of our lives, that we might more efficiently spread the Gospel to others. May we relinquish control and allow You to transform our hearts and minds. Give us the courage to step out in faith and be bold; that we might produce much fruit for You. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you!

Gratitude and Devotion

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JESUS SPEAKING

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So, when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was, that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So, Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 17: 11 – 19)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Leprosy was a highly contagious disease that condemned the infected to live in isolation and despair. As a group of ten lepers stood afar off, they begged Jesus to heal them. In response, He sent them to the priests to be examined and considered fit to rejoin society. As they journeyed they were healed. Although all ten had been restored, only one man returned to praise and honor Jesus; revealing that he alone had undergone an inward transformation as well.

Concerning gratitude, there is another account in the gospels of a man named ‘Bartimaeus.’ From what we know, he was a blind beggar who, upon hearing that Jesus was near, cried out to Him. Having been called forward, he begged Jesus to restore his vision. Jesus responded saying, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” He was immediately healed and received his sight. Overwhelmed with gratitude and joy he began following Jesus along the road.

Those who have been healed and transformed by God will return to honor Him with gratitude and thanksgiving. Genuine faith will also produce a devotion to following Jesus wherever He leads. Practically, we can honor Him through our praise, worship, and expressions of thankfulness. By means of His power may we always hold Him close.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we are eternally grateful for Your healing and restoration. May we be filled with joy overflowing, as we praise and honor You in all things. Give us the strength to follow You wherever it is You are leading us. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus name, amen.” God bless all of you!

Being Liked

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JESUS SPEAKING

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15: 18 – 20)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

The desire to be liked is a powerful human instinct which can often interfere with honest evangelism. Although we are called to accomplish good works and to love others, our kind deeds must also include the gospel message. The gospel is a wonderful gift to mankind, and yet it is also divisive, exclusionary, and confrontational. For instance, Jesus is the only way to God; thus revealing that all other religions are false. Also, refusing to accept the faith will result in eternal punishment. For these reasons alone, any messenger of the gospel will be hated by many.

I was recently summoned to the bedside of a woman dying of cancer. Despite numerous years of defiance, in that moment she received Jesus Christ and was baptized with a wet washcloth. She died the next day. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to speak at her funeral; which I agreed to do. Upon arriving at the home for the ceremony, I began casually speaking with her relatives, friends and acquaintances. Most of them were very pleasant; shaking my hand and treating me with a measure of affection. They were open and expressive; they genuinely seemed to like me. When it came time to speak I didn’t hold back. I described how this woman had gotten saved, and that she wasn’t dead, but alive in Christ. I then presented everyone in attendance with the gospel message. I explained how they too needed to receive Christ and be reborn if they were to have a future with her in God’s kingdom. I then announced that after the service I would be available for anyone who desired to receive Christ as she had done. I informed them that I had bibles to hand out to whomever might want one. After the service concluded, the room became remarkably silent. Most refrained from making eye contact with me. No one approached me to inquire about being saved, and their previous affections for me had vanished; their warmth had turned cold (with several exceptions.) I lingered for a while, speaking with individuals here and there; I was even able to hand out a few bibles. Still, this cold reaction wasn’t entirely unexpected. If I had possessed an overwhelming desire to be liked, I could have easily altered the message; making it more palatable and less convicting. But then it would have become something other than the gospel truth.

As we journey through this life we must maintain our commitment to preaching the gospel; unaltered and unchanged. The message is not ours, but God’s alone. We are not the authors of truth; but rather, we are charged with delivering it to others. May we never allow our desire to be liked to interfere with our allegiance to Christ, and our commitment to the truth.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength and courage to spread Your message of salvation to all those who are walking in darkness. May we remain committed to preaching the whole gospel. Grant us strength in times of persecution and unrest; that our affections for You may remain steadfast. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!