13/11/2017 - HOW TO BE SANCTIFIED

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There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:34

Paul the apostle, referring to the married woman and a virgin tells us that the latter cares for the things of the Lord to be holy in body and in spirit.  It is the duty of the sisters to preserve themselves for marriage, and men must do this as well.  However we must ask ourselves if we have guarded well what the Father has given us or if we have wasted the treasures that are entrusted to us.  For sure those who do not protect them will have their crown stolen by somebody (Revelation 3:11).

The key to being sanctified is to care for the works concerning the Kingdom of God.  This way there will be no breaches through which sin might come in. There are those that sanctify themselves in the spirit but with regards to the body they make no distinction between right and wrong. If that which is forbidden were not harmful and dangerous, the Lord would not have gone through the trouble of prohibiting us from doing it.  There are many who are saved but are affected by the devil for not heeding the warnings of the Almighty.

The Bible calls us to keep our selves – body, soul and spirit – in sanctity for the coming of Christ. Someone might ask:  “If I don’t want to keep myself in sanctity, what will happen?”  Well, I don’t even want to consider or reflect on this, for again I say:  if this procedure were not crucial the Lord would not waste any time I telling us so. However, when rebellion lives in one’s heart, the person will always find a way to disobey God.

Somebody might think that the Lord does not care with what is done with the body or mind, as long as there is dedication to the Lord’s divine works.  However, on the great Day, Jesus will say to some that cast out demons, worked wonders and even prophesied that He never knew them because of their transgression and iniquities (Matthew 7:23).  It is wise and good to take care of your thoughts, words and deeds, because having been advised you will have no excuses.

A married woman may live well with her husband and at the same time care for the tasks of the Almighty. We have an example in Deborah who judged Israel wisely in the past and was a wife to Lapidoth (Judges 4:4). But there are many who don’t know how to manage their time, talents and resources and disregard their husbands to work for the Lord or the other way around.  Those that are married in alliance with the Lord know how to carry out both missions.

On the other hand, there are single women who are not worried at all with the work of the Lord.  Alas it is not the marriage itself that makes the difference, but yes it is the wisdom and the love that are dedicated to the Heavenly Father. Regrettably, we know of members and workers who say they love God but they do not love their neighbor. These situations are to prove that we have work to do in teaching and ministering to others, in order that all may serve the Almighty well.

Now, to care for the things of this world is to totally miss the target. We must first seek the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and then all other things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). However, whoever loves this world, surely does not love the Lord (1 John 2:15).

In Christ, with Love,

R. R. Soares