God’s will

For this is God’s will, your sanctification… (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Those words struck me today, probably because this is one of the few places that outright says, “This is God’s will.”

I think a lot of Christians, myself included, say, “I want to know God’s will.”

And we usually think in terms of things like who we should marry or what career path to take.

But God reminded me this morning, “This is my will: your sanctification.”

Paul is primarily talking about sexual purity here, as sexual sin was as big a problem then as it is now.

But sanctification isn’t limited to sexual purity. It’s becoming more like Jesus in everything: in love, in speech, in thoughts, in everything we do.

So today, I’m thinking about certain heart issues God’s been working on in my life.

And as I’m wrestling with them even now, I’m reminding myself of loving Abba’s words to me.

“This is my will: your sanctification.”