SANCTIFICATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES

05- 08- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Thessalonians 4:3- 5)

SANCTIFICATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES

3- “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4- That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5- Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”

I know that many of our readers may wonder what this word (sanctification) means. It‘s a theological word or term that I myself was confused and did not have any clue about the meaning of it when I was new in my faith. We may even think that “sanctification” is the next door neighbor of the author. But this has a special place in the heart of God because that is His will for us, “to be set apart”.

Dr. H.L. Willmington said in his book, Willmington Guide to the Bible: “… In like manner he has only one will for saints and that is that they be sanctified! Here Paul, of course, refers to a daily growing in grace and maturing in the faith.”

God’s will for us Christians is to be set apart for God. The theological word for being “Set Apart” is Sanctification. (II Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (I Thessalonians 4:3) “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”

The Greek word for Sanctification is Hagiasmos which means a separation, setting apart. It’s fundamental force being to separate from the world and consecrate to God. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God. It may be things, places, persons, days, seasons or objects that people used for worship. (Exodus 13:1-2) “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (verse 2) “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.”

To sanctify Jehovah means to put Him in a category by Himself, to acknowledge Him as God, to recognize Him as supreme, sovereign, with a unique claim on all of His creation. When Christ sanctifies Himself (I John 17:19), He means that He consecrates Himself to His mediatorial work as a Redeemer. (Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary, page 751). The word saint comes from this root word. If you are a saint it means you are a sanctified individual. (Romans 12:1-2) 1- “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

A MOTHER’S LOVE AND FAITH

05- 07- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (II Timothy 1:3- 5)

A MOTHER’S LOVE AND FAITH

3- “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4- Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5- When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a Mother's love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappoints
And calm all of our fears.

There are times when only a Mother's love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a Mother's faith
Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.

For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith
And a Mother's steadfast love
Were fashioned by the Angels
And sent from God above... - Author Unknown.

The Lord wants us to have the 3 major things in our spiritual journey as well as in our life as a Christians which are “faith, hope and love”. Matthew Henry said; “The entail of religion descended upon Timothy by the mother’s side; he had a good mother, and a good grandmother: they believed, though his father did not, Acts 16:1. It is a comfortable thing when children imitate the faith and holiness of their godly parents, and tread in their steps, 3 Jn. 4.— Dwelt in thy grandmother and thy mother, and I am persuaded that in thee also. Paul had a very charitable opinion of his friends, was very willing to hope the best concerning them; indeed he had a great deal of reason to believe well of Timothy, for he had no man like-minded, Phil. 2:20. Observe, 1. We are, according to St. Paul, to serve God with a pure conscience, so did his and our pious forefathers; this is to draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, Heb. 10:22. 2.” (The Bible Collection)

(II Timothy 1:7) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN AN EXCELLENT MOTHER

05- 06- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Proverbs 31:10; 26- 28)

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN AN EXCELLENT MOTHER

10- “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 26- She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27- She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28- Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”

These are some of the people who wrote, made a comment or said something about their mother or about mother’s day. They are the people who became great and famous and people who made history. (Some of the quotations were taken from Yahoo search.)

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." - Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." - Marion C. Garretty (Quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul)

"There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness... The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and on that capital I have made my way." - Andrew Jackson, U.S. President

"Is my mother my friend? I would have to say, first of all she is my Mother, with a capital 'M'; she's something sacred to me. I love her dearly...yes, she is also a good friend, someone I can talk openly with if I want to." - Sophia Loren, Actress

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." - William D. Tammeus, Editorial page columnist for The Kansas City Star

"There is but one way to eliminate juvenile delinquency - that is by providing each child in America with competent parents." (J. Edgar Hoover)

"A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest." - Irish Proverb

"You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be - I had a mother who read to me." - Strickland Gillilan, Poet and Humorist

It is very true; mothers have a special place in the heart and mind of their children. It’s a spot that not one could understand and no one could take upon but his or her mother.

(Proverbs 31:30) “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

PRAYER IS ASKING AND BELIEVING

05- 05- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

PRAYER IS ASKING AND BELIEVING

59- “And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 60- That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 61- Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.”

People sometimes would say that they don’t need to pray because God knows their needs anyways. But prayer is not merely asking for something you need from the Lord, it’s communicating and building a good and intimate relationship with our Savior. Communication is important to the health of any relationships; especially for husbands and wives, parents and children and even at work. As believers, to have an intimate relationship with God the Father, we need to pray. It’s almost impossible to have a close relationship with someone you rarely communicate with. And for a good relationship to be more intimate, it needs to be primarily positive communications. If you want to deepen your relationship with your spouse, then learn to establish and open a positive communication with your spouse. That’s what we’re supposed to do with our relationship with God.

When you read God’s Word, you let God talk to you and when you pray, you are talking to God. I don’t know what you would feel if your husband or your wife don’t or won’t talk to you for no reason. You eat on the same table, shared the same bed and the communication is cut off because there is no signal? Is it because your spouse made a bad decision or made a mistake and you used it against your spouse? And as a couple, you’re sitting on the same couch, sleeping in the same bed and driving with your spouse next to you… quite, because you just don’t want to talk. You would not be happy with your relationship if you keep your ears closed. Just imagine if we’re not talking to God about our problems, about our needs, about what He did to us and if we’re not thankful to Him. If it hurts us or if we’re not pleased because our spouse won’t talk to us; I believe God would not be pleased if you will not pray.

Andrew Murray said: “Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. God’s voice in response to mine is its most essential part.” Andrew Murray 1828-1917.

(Isaiah 56:7)”Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”

(Matthew 6:6) “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee open”

(Jeremiah 33:3) “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

PRAYER- GOD’S RESOLUTION TO HUMAN PROBLEMS!!!

05- 04- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Kings 8:37- 40)

PRAYER- GOD’S RESOLUTION TO HUMAN PROBLEMS!!!

37- If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 38- What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 39- Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) 40- That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.”

Our Nation observed National Day of prayer on May 05 which is really great and we need it. This portion of MI DAILY DEVOTION is in relation to the observance of this special day. I hope and pray that this will be a constant practice for us and must be our life as God’s children.

P- Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17; 25) 17- “Pray without ceasing.” 25- “Brethren, pray for us.”

R- Repent, restore, rebuild and get revived by the Holy Spirit of God. (I Kings 8: 33- 34) 33- “When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 34- Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.”

A- “Acts” in your prayer is necessary. A- Adoration, C- Confession, T- Thanksgiving, S- Supplication. (I Kings 8:30) “And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.”

Y- Yearn and trust the leading of the Holy Spirit of God and the Word. (I Kings 8:58; 61) 58- “That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 61- Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.”

E- Examine yourself. (II Corinthians 13:5) 5- “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

R- Re-focus your aim and your vision. (Hebrews 12:2) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

A GODLY COUNSEL FROM A GODLY MOTHER

05- 02- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Proverbs 31:

A GODLY COUNSEL FROM A GODLY MOTHER

1- “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2- What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3- Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4- It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5- Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6- Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 7- Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”

Most interpreters are of opinion that Lemuel is Solomon; the name signifies one that is for God, or devoted to God; and so it agrees well enough with that honourable name which, by divine appointment, was given to Solomon (2 Sa. 12:25), Jedediah—beloved of the Lord. Lemuel is supposed to be a pretty, fond, endearing name, by which his mother used to call him; and so much did he value himself upon the interest he had in his mother’s affections that he was not ashamed to call himself by it. One would the rather incline to think it is Solomon that here tells us what his mother taught him because he tells us (ch. 4:4) what his father taught him. But some think (and the conjecture is not improbable) that Lemuel was a prince of some neighbouring country, whose mother was a daughter of Israel, perhaps of the house of David, and taught him these good lessons. Note, 1. It is the duty of mothers, as well as fathers, to teach their children what is good, that they may do it, and what is evil, that they may avoid it; when they are young and tender they are most under the mother’s eye, and she has then an opportunity of moulding and fashioning their minds well, which she ought not to let slip. 2. Even kings must be catechised; the greatest of men is less than the least of the ordinances of God. 3. Those that have grown up to maturity should often call to mind, and make mention of, the good instructions they received when they were children, for their own admonition, the edification of others, and the honour of those who were the guides of their youth. Now, in this mother’s (this queen mother’s) catechism, observe, I. Her expostulation with the young prince, by which she lays hold of him, claims an interest in him, and awakens his attention to what she is about to say (v. 2): "What! my son? What shall I say to thee?’’ She speaks as one considering what advice to give him, and choosing out words to reason with him; so full of concern is she for his welfare! Or, What is it that thou doest? It seems to be a chiding question. She observed, when he was young, that he was too much inclined to women and wine, and therefore she found it necessary to take him to task and deal roundly with him. "What! my son? Is this the course of life thou intendest to lead? Have I taught thee no better than thus? I must reprove thee, and reprove thee sharply, and thou must take it well, for,’’ 1. "Thou art descended from me; thou art the son of my womb, and therefore what I say comes from the authority and affection of a parent and cannot be suspected to come from any ill-will. Thou art a piece of myself. I bore thee with sorrow, and I expect no other return for all the pains I have taken with thee, and undergone for thee, than this, Be wise and good, and then I am well paid.’’ 2. "Thou art devoted to my God; thou art the son of my vows, the son I prayed to God to give me and promised to give back to God, and did so’’ (thus Samuel was the son of Hannah’s vows); "Thou art the son I have often prayed to God to give his grace to (Ps. 72:1), and shall a child of so many prayers miscarry? (The Bible Collection)

THE STRUGGLES OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS

05- 01- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

THE STRUGGLES OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS

1- “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2- And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3- Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4- And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5- So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6- And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7- Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

These are some of the things that single mothers are going through right now: Fear, Failures and financial difficulties. I know that even the married, the singles and the believers are going through the same struggles.

Fear of her future and the future of her children. We have single mothers in our churches, neighborhood or at work. Some of the single mothers that you know may be living in fear. Pray for them and spend time with them. Offer some helps like doing the household chores.

The failures of the single mothers are known to many as bad luck or due to bad decisions. They became single mothers because of failures in marriage due to divorce or separation which is very common everywhere. There are those who failed in their career or failed due to depression caused by the death of a husband or a partner. One of the sad things that can happen (God forbid) is sex outside of marriage. There are single mothers who were raped, abused or due to pre-marital sex.

There are single mothers who are going through financial difficulties because of hospital bills, burial expenses and the financial responsibilities at home for their children. The woman in our text went through the same problems.

Augustine said: “Let God cover thy wounds.” And that is very true, let God covers your pain and sorrow with His love and comforts and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. But you really have to put your trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6- In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Start it now and exercise your faith.”