This is the will of
God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3
Sanctification
is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has
been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing
to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in
my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians
1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No,
you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of
action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute,
unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will
become real in you.
All
that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God
on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a
saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no
such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance,
a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing
realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared
nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8).
He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul
said that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Sanctification
makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God,
and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never
confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and
prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the
miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the
atonement through the Cross of Christ.
(Taken from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost
for His Highest” October 20)