Monday, December 23, 2013

Cooperation in Sanctification

Studying my Sunday School lesson every week before teaching the high school girls is so refreshing and challenging to my own heart. Thank you, Father, for the opportunity to dig into Your Word and dialogue about it with others that are seeking to know You better. Keep reminding me that it is a gift to be a lifelong learner and student of Your Word and that I will never "arrive" this side of seeing You face to face. You continually remind me of more of Your beauty and goodness. Thank you for the richness of Your Word.
The truth that gripped my heart and attention this week was the idea of cooperating with the Holy Spirit in my pursuit of holiness. All of sanctification is a work completed, continued, and perfected by You, Jesus. I know that salvation is a gift and not based on works, but how much of the time I am living out my salvation based on works. The swirl of thoughts and emotions go something like this: Why did I mess up again? I need to feel guilty for a long time to pay for that one. I've got this "life" thing down and can do it on my own...only to fail miserably after 2.5 seconds. All of these thoughts and feelings have me at the center, and in actuality YOU are at the center...always have been, are right now, and will be forever. There is such freedom in this word - cooperation. The Holy Spirit is fighting for my holiness at this moment and interceding on my behalf to the Creator of the Universe. Why wouldn't I cooperate with Him? Umm, because I'm stubborn and self-centered!! Forgive me, Father, for ever and all the time thinking that my life and this world is about me. Your glory and renown are what lasts for eternity. Thank You for not giving up on me and for fighting for my greater good. Help me, right in the middle of my weakness, to cooperate with You and pursue You with everything that I am. I want to pursue holiness. I want to run hard after You, Jesus.

"And we, who with unveiled faces 
all reflect the Lord's glory, 
are being transformed, 
into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, 
which comes from the Lord, 
who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:18

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