1 Thess 4:3

For this is the will of God, your sanctification

Have you ever lain in bed pondering, “What is God’s will for my life?” I know I have. “What if I get it wrong?” “I won’t meet the right spouse, find the right church, be at the right place at the right time”…etc. That is quite the load to bear. When we are supposed to have peace and joy in His Spirit, we are fretting if we are doing it right.

I want to dissect the word “sanctification”. Anything can be sanctified- food, a car, a person, a day, a TV program, or us. It means to be separated. The Greek word used here is hagiasmos (from the root word “Holy”- hagiazo). It is quite simple- it is the act of being set apart for holiness.

So what is holiness? Jesus set that example: He hung with sinners to share the gospel, but he himself did not sin. He hung out with his Father in prayer because he loved too talk to Him. When the Spirit told him to do something, he did it.

The rest of this chapter gives some practical application. To ponder God’s will for us requires spending time with Him, but the path starts by not acting like this world does today.

“Hooking up” is touted as normal- be abnormal.
Living in debt is expected- be weird.
Movies today are laced with vengeance- seek forgiveness.

Do it because Jesus set that example for us.

In modifying behavior and moving it towards doing what the bible says is right, you have started living God’s will for yourself- your sanctification.