Read:1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

In these last verses of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, we would expect him to remind the people to live holy lives. But that’s not what Paul says here. Instead he says, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you.” It is his prayer that God will make them holy, completely holy.

Notice that he says, “The God of peace.” God is a God of peace because he has restored our relationship with him. If Christ hadn’t come or we hadn’t been saved, we wouldn’t be able to have peace with God. We would hate God and not want to serve him. But Christ has come and has restored our relationship with the Lord so that now we love the Lord and want to serve him. It is God who has made this possible. He is the God of peace.

And because he has saved us, he will also make us live holy lives—sanctify us. That’s what Paul is saying here. Because God has saved you, he will now make you holy, sanctify you. The word “completely” here means that God will make us holy with all of our lives and to the very end. There is not one part of our lives that isn’t for the Lord. Our whole life must be lived holy for the Lord.

Verse 24 is a promise from God that he is faithful and that he will sanctify us to the end. That’s God promise to us. Often we doubt it. We think we aren’t good enough. We see our sins and know that they don’t please God, and we start to wonder if we will actually be saved. But God promises us here that he is faithful. He will do it. He has saved us and will make sure we are saved till the end. He has made us holy. It is all God’s work in us.

So how should we respond to God’s promise? Thank the Lord for his blessings and pray that you will live every day in complete holiness.

Reflection with your child:

What is God’s great promise to you in these verses?

Source: Sermon by Rev. H. Alkema