To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2, 3 NKJV).
What do you think of when you hear the word, sanctified? Sanctified means to be set apart for God. Most Christians, who strive to be sanctified, do exactly that they strive. Attempting sanctification on our own strength never works. What then, is the secret? Paul gives us a glimpse of it in the way that he addressed the church at Corinth. He made note of the fact that in every place they call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
The way to live a life that is set apart for God is not to strive to be good enough, but rather to call on the name of the Lord in every place and in every circumstance. Calling on the name of the Lord denotes a life that is submitted to and dependent on Gods strength and wisdom, rather than mans. An interesting by product of calling on the name of the Lord is Gods favor (grace), and peace. Peace speaks of rest, and the absence of strife. It is a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being.
Have you sensed Gods favor on your life? Is your life filled with rest, and free from striving? If not, it could be that you are attempting to do things in your own strength rather than calling on the name of the Lord in every circumstance and situation.
Father, we ask You to help us to call on you in each and every situation throughout our day. Help us not to attempt to do things in our own strength. Help us to look to You for wisdom and strength in even the seemingly little things of our day. Create within us a holy dependence on You. We thank You that as we do this, Your favor and peace will be upon us.
What have you been attempting to handle on your own? Right now, call on God for His help and wisdom in the situation. Today, in each and every thing that you face, call on the Name of the Lord, and see the difference that His favor and peace will make in your life.
2006 by Rebecca Livermore, a Christian speaker and writer from Denver, Colorado. Her passion is helping people grow spiritually. To read more of her articles on Christian living, and to check out her always growing selection of Christian resource materials, visit http://www.rebeccalivermore.com .
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