December 29
The Benediction
of Holiness
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
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. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Daily Steps
This powerful final blessing encapsulates the ultimate Lasting Promise (Day 354) regarding the believer's future. It reminds us that sanctification (The Call to Holiness, Day 314)—the lifelong process of being made holy—is ultimately dependent on God's active work, not just our effort. We are assured of complete holiness and blamelessness because The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
The peace in this principle is found in guaranteed purification:
The Source of Sanctification: Our hope lies in God himself, the God of peace. He is the initiator and agent of our sanctification (Day 314), grounding the process in His nature. He is the ultimate source of secured tranquility (Day 355).
The Scope of Purification: God desires to sanctify you through and through. This means the transformation is intended to be holistic (Day 349), touching your whole spirit, soul and body. No part of your life is outside the scope of His purifying work. The goal is a final presentation: kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Day 360).
The Certainty of Fulfillment: The final, comforting assurance is: The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. This is the guaranteed completion (Day 351) of the good work (Day 351) begun in you. Our ability to hold unswervingly (Day 364) is secured by His faithfulness (Day 285).
Your peace is secured by guaranteed purification. Embrace this Final Benediction today by acknowledging that your ultimate holiness is God's responsibility. Let go of the fear of failure and trust the faithfulness of the God who has called you, knowing He will do it.
Reflective Question
If you knew with absolute certainty that God will keep your whole spirit, soul and body blameless until Christ's return, how would that knowledge change your approach to a specific temptation or moral struggle today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my weakness and my difficulty in maintaining holiness. I thank You for the promise that You, the God of peace, will sanctify me through and through. I pray for the grace to cooperate with Your purifying work, resting in the truth that The one who calls me is faithful, and he will do it. Secure my peace today in this guaranteed purification, and keep me blameless until the end. Amen.
