“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.” 1 Thess. 5:23-24
Heavenly Father, there’s so much relief and hope crammed into these two verses. Hallelujah, you didn’t just call us to life in Jesus, you are also at work making us like him “through and through.” From head to foot, inside and out, you have declared us to be “blameless” in Christ. You will “hold us fast” and keep us all the way Home. No wonder you’re called “the God of peace”—because you sure give a lot of peace to us, your children.
Nowhere else can such freedom, joy, and assurance be found. Like many, I lived a long time more like the Gospel is good advice than Good News—an exhortation to greater holiness in me, and a bigger smile on your face. But, hallelujah, the Gospel isn’t rules for putting a bigger smile on your face, it’s your declaration that Jesus, himself, is our “righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Cor.1:30). You don’t just smile at us; your favor is permanently resting on us and you never stop delighting in us—never.
Though I wish I had recognized the “gospel-less-gospel” sooner, I’m glad to be savoring, swimming in, and living by the riches of your grace now. Obedience is gratitude, repentance is joy, holiness is beautiful. Why? Because we can’t make you love us more, and you will never love us less. Thank you, Father. Free us, even more, to live and love to your glory. So Very Amen.