20 Dec January 28th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

 SANCTIFICATION CONTINUED – 

GOD CALLED YOU TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE

1 Thessalonians 4:7 “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

It is not unusual to hear people say today, “ it is my life,”  “it is my body,” “I get to decide,” etc.  In other words, these people are saying no one is going to tell me what I can and cannot do.  I will make my choices based upon what I determine to be right and wrong. . . good or bad.

The truth is these comments come from the prompting of the Old Adam being coached by the world and Satan himself.  They are no different than what Satan told Adam and Eve at the forbidden tree in the garden.  There he told them “. . . your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) Believing that you get to decide whether God’s word is right for you or not and you will determine what is good and evil is the oldest sin in the book.

To the Children of Israel God said, “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore, be holy, because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45) And, through the pen of St. Peter God says in the New Testament, “ . . . just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do . . .” (1 Peter 1:15) And, God has given you the Ten Commandments “to control violent outbursts of sin and keep order in the world (a curb;) to show you your sins (a mirror;) and, to teach (you) what (you) should and should not do to lead a God-pleasing life (a guide.)” (Small Catechism, pages 96-97)

Psalm 119:9 asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” and then answers, “By guarding it according to Your (God’s) word.”  Psalm 119:105 “Your (God’s) word is a lamp to (your) feet and a light to (your) path.”

The Catechism then says, “The power to live according to the Law comes from the Gospel.”  God not only demands that you live a pure life.  He provides you with the way to do so.  Jesus says, “Whoever abides in Me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit (does what pleases God,) for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 13:5) “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:13)

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, keep me always strong in my faith and trust in Jesus through whom it is not longer I who live but Him who lives in me.”  In His holy name.  Amen.

Come, Thou fount of ev’ry blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise. While the hope of endless glory

Fills my heart with joy and love, Teach me ever to adore Thee;

May I still Thy goodness prove.

Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’ve come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home,

Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand’ring from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be;

Let that grace now like a fetter Bind my wand’ring heart to thee:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.

Oh, that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face;

Clothed then in the blood-washed linen,

How I’ll sing Thy wondrous grace! Come, my Lord, no longer tarry;

Take my ransom’d soul away;

Send Thine angels soon to carry Me to realms of endless day.

(LSB 686)