Walking in Obedience Before the Lord

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

You have been sanctified not to fall backwards into sin but to live apart from sin.

Today’s devotional reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

The will of God is our sanctification, which is to say, God desires for us to be holy just as He is holy. God has set all us sincere believers apart in our hearts by the blood of Jesus. Our salvation has been sealed and one day we will be whole and complete, perfect in the kingdom of God.

Yet, just because the promise of our salvation has been sealed by the Spirit, that does not mean we can live sinfully. No, we are to live in a manner to shine as a light in a dark world. To do this, we must continue let the Holy Spirit work within us, lead us, and guide us.

We live in a society that is driven to sin through sexual immorality, which Paul addressed to the Thessalonian believers. Our society is also driven to sin through acts of bitterness and hatred. One who is a child of God must permit the Holy Spirit to lead them away from such sin, as sexual immorality is not OK, nor are the acts of bitterness and hatred.

Your faith will be tested by this world, and no, we won’t be perfect. Many of us are lustful and participate in sexual immorality with our eyes, in our thoughts, and through actions. Many of us give in to bitterness and hate. We must understand that it’s not OK for us to be given into sin.

Therefore, we must learn to discipline ourselves so that we may truly minister the gospel. Let us discipline ourselves in our walk of faith by leaning on God’s grace and mercy in the day of our error. Let us discipline ourselves by being true to the Spirit, permitting the Holy Spirit to help lead us unto everlasting perfection.