Sanctification

Theres so much to blog about, so much so that I'm writing three blogs at once!  I think I'll post over the next couple days.  But first I guess I'll go with probably the most significant of my thoughts (or at least the most edifying mental conversation/contemplation I've had with myself)

Sanctification

This is a word I want you to know (mr. locke and rest of sg who doesn't read this but will hear about it on monday maybe and don't forget it like you guys forgot imputation two days after we talked about it... shekkis)

Sanctification is the process by which God makes us more like Christ.

Several definitions from dictionary.com

Sanctify [sangk-tuh-fahy]

1.  to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate

2.  to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts

Sanctification [Sanc'ti*fi*ca"tion] n. (L. sanctificatio)

1.  The act of sanctifying or making holy; the state of being sanctified or made holy; esp. (Theol.), the act of God's grace by which the affection of men are purified, or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God; also, the state of being thus purified or sanctified.

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.  2 Thess 2:13

Why do I think sanctification is an important thing to understand?

Because sanctification is something Christians are and will continue to struggle with for the rest of their lives.  It's for sure a struggle because sanctification stinkin sucks sometimes.  Sometimes its circumstancial lameness, or physical, or even spiritual, such as spiritual dryness.  But what bothers me most is not understanding.

I am a problem solver, which is probably why I'm an engineer.  I'm not necessarilly good at solving problems but I feel good when I can fix something or when I can help somehow.  Either way this means I need to understand and remedy whatever is going on.  But sanctification doesn't really present itself to be solved.  I guess sometimes sanctification comes in the form of rebuke or personal discory/deeper understanding of sin, in which case ya its easy to know what to do.  Stop sinning.  But sometimes, as others would call in pruning, sanctification can be a long and confusing process.  And it bugs me sooo much to not know whats going on, i ask, "how is this supposed to make me a better servant" or "how is this productive to building up Your kingdom?"  I guess sometimes you have to be broken down to build Him up.  Less of me and more of You.

It seems like when it comes to a genuine reliance on God, that Christians often have their dependencies tested and thats stinkin hard.  Maybe its just me (and a few other people I know,) but sometimes our reliances get taken away.  Not anything that we really need but the things we want that we rely on for our joy.  I think maybe it really takes something as drastic as losing what we idolize to see what's really important.  It took me a long time to figure out and maybe I haven't figured it out but I feel like I've lost a lot of things that i used to value (or still do), like excessive rest, playing games, eating out all the time, close friends, expensive purchases, new clothes, time with family, good roommates, a clean home, service opportunities, relationships.  Maybe a lot of those things are lost just made more difficult and I'm being stoopid dramatic.

But regardless, my struggle with all those things, big or small, has made me more reliant on God, because no matter how my friends, family, roommates, circumstances change.... He doesn't, and His grace is enough for me.

I know that, but I still need to believe it wholeheartedly and live it..... workin on that