Do you ever doubt that you will be fully holy?
And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10
Holy Lord,
We confess, we are often confused
about the process of becoming like Jesus (also known as sanctification).
We profess that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone (See Ephesians 2:8-9)—
but then we act like becoming more like Jesus is up to us.
Thank you for your Word which shows us that all of it is up to you—
salvation and sanctification.
You, who have begun a good work in us
will be faithful to complete it (See Philippians 1:6).
You, who created us in Christ Jesus for good works,
will empower us, by your Spirit, to walk in them (See Ephesians 2:9-10).
Do you love us less
when we sleep through our alarm
and miss our devotional time?
According to Jeremiah 31:3, no—
your everlasting, saving, sacrificial love
does not wax and wane
like our fickle and faithless love.
Does that mean that we should neglect the means of grace—
reading our Bibles,
praying (listening and talking to you),
and partaking in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper
in our local church?
May it never be!
These are the ways you nourish our growth in grace!
Not the ways we earn your favor
but the ways we grow up to be like Jesus!
Oh, Lord, help us to believe
that our salvation and our sanctification
are secure in you!
Help us to love you
and live to honor and serve you
more and more
because you have already declared us
holy and righteous,
your beloved children!
Amen.
Read Hebrews 10:10-14; Ephesians 2:9-10.
