In Touch - Apr. 9, 2007

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

            The Lord has a wonderful plan for our lives. And it can be summed up in a single word, sanctification. If you’re scratching your head about the meaning of that term, you’re not alone. Many people don’t know its definition. But believers need to understand the word because it defines them.  

            Sanctify, the verb form of sanctification, means “to make holy” or “to separate.” When something is sanctified, it is separated from a common use to a sacred one. In the Old Testament, the Lord sanctified a number of things. He made the seventh day holy, set aside the Levite tribe as priests, and even consecrated places like the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle (Genesis 2:3; Numbers 3).  

            The Lord still sanctifies people today. Romans 5:10 says we are enemies of God before we accept Jesus. But the moment someone trusts Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, his sins are wiped away. He’s adopted into the Lord’s family. That individual is set apart as a child of God for a sacred purpose. This means believers aren’t here to pursue personal gain. We’re here to serve God and bring Him glory and honor. 

            Believers are called “saints,” a word which shares its root with “sanctification.” We’re called upon to reflect God’s glory. God sees us as saints not because we live sinless lives, but because we live a life consistent with the One we represent.

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