Day Four, January 15th – Set Apart in Christ

Day Four – Set apart in Christ 

Before we dive into this morning’s encouragement, I want to invite you to pause for a moment and reflect on what are you thankful for today. Take a moment to write it down or thank God out loud. Gratitude encourages our hearts toward truth, even in when it may be difficult. 

One of the many things I am thankful for is that we are set apart in Christ. That we are chosen, claimed and dedicated in Christ not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done, our lives are marked as belonging to Him.

Take a moment to read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 

“23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV) 

Some of us, when we read the word sanctify or holy depending on your translation, we can feel pressure instead of peace. We might begin to pressure ourselves to perform rather than resting in what God is offering to us. 

I loved what Pastor Adina shared yesterday about rest and how her daughter described it as being calm in Him. Resting in Christ means we don’t need to perform to be accepted. I explained it to the kids this way; resting means staying close to Him and letting Him take care of us instead of us trying to control everything ourselves. It really is being calm in Him. 

This is where we see that holiness is a gift, it’s not something we accomplish on our own. We read this in the beginning of verse 23 where Paul writes “may the God of peace himself…” Sanctification begins and ends with God. Is centered on His character, not our ability. 

In Hebrews 10:10 it says, “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (ESV) Because of what Christ has done we are made holy in Him. We are set apart because of our union with Christ and holiness flows from belonging not striving. “And because of him[a] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” 1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV) Paul reminds us that Christ himself is our righteousness and sanctification. 

At the end of the passage Paul says, “He who calls you is faithful.” We have been set apart because we belong. Our identity is rooted in God’s call, not our performance. What a beautiful gift, that God himself would make us holy and then faithfully keep us. Being “kept blameless” is something done to us, not something we manage on our own. 

We can trust that God will continue His work because He is faithful. Holiness is received before it is revealed, and that is our hearts cry during this fast that God would show us His glory. As we rest in His holiness, we begin to perceive and reflect His glory more clearly, living from the gift He already has give. 

Let this be our prayer today. “Lord, you have made me holy in Christ. Let Your glory be reflected in the purity You have provided.” 

Blessings,

Pastor Stephanie