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- Apr 25, 2006
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Through and Through
'May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through' 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23
Paul writes: 'May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV).
'Through and through'; it's very clear that when God sorts out our lives He works from the inside out! Imagine you're a bit of a kleptomaniac; you can't stop nicking stuff. Handcuffing you and taking you off to jail might stop you stealing but you'd still be a thief inside. The problem with a thief isn't with your hands, it's with your mind and spirit, which says 'gimme' everytime something takes your fancy. Too many of us want to get victory over bodily sins without being transformed inside.
Trying to change that way is like rewinding back to the days of the Old Testament when the Law was all people had to direct their steps. But Jesus has changed all that; He has fulfilled God's promise to '...put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts...' (Jeremiah 31.33 NIV).
God starts with our spirit because that's the part of our being that makes us aware of Him; that 'connects' with Him. When God sets us free in our spirit, then our physical actions start to fall in line. So if you really want to act differently today ask the Holy Spirit to change you through and through!
written by Bob Gass
'May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through' 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23
Paul writes: 'May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV).
'Through and through'; it's very clear that when God sorts out our lives He works from the inside out! Imagine you're a bit of a kleptomaniac; you can't stop nicking stuff. Handcuffing you and taking you off to jail might stop you stealing but you'd still be a thief inside. The problem with a thief isn't with your hands, it's with your mind and spirit, which says 'gimme' everytime something takes your fancy. Too many of us want to get victory over bodily sins without being transformed inside.
Trying to change that way is like rewinding back to the days of the Old Testament when the Law was all people had to direct their steps. But Jesus has changed all that; He has fulfilled God's promise to '...put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts...' (Jeremiah 31.33 NIV).
God starts with our spirit because that's the part of our being that makes us aware of Him; that 'connects' with Him. When God sets us free in our spirit, then our physical actions start to fall in line. So if you really want to act differently today ask the Holy Spirit to change you through and through!
written by Bob Gass
