Life is full of processes. A good-looking and functional product must go through phases such as research, concept, production and marketing. Olympic athletes go through periods of training and discipline long before they ever stand on the podium to receive a medal. They have to willingly submit themselves to the training process, otherwise their dreams of becoming a champion will only remain as dreams.

Author and Pastor Rick Warren writes that one of the purposes of life is to be sanctified. This process is a result of the grace of God. While an Olympic athlete’s goal is to win a gold medal, a Christian’s goal is to be made more like Jesus. This is a process that is a result of the grace of God. We are not saved by grace so we can simply punch our tickets to heaven. We therefore, must daily surrender to the process by which God transforms us into the image of His Son Jesus.

“Grace comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first at dawning, then a light; and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.”

Thomas Adams

SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

Take a few moments to look up, read and reflect over the following passages on sanctification. What three areas of your life are you most like Jesus? What three areas of your life are you least like Jesus? Pray and ask God to help you surrender to His way on a daily basis.

• 2 CORINTHIANS 3:17-18
• 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18
• 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23-24
• ROMANS 12:1-2
• 1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8

Steps to Salvation:

The Bible states that God loves you and cares for you as a person (John 3:16). Humankind has been separated from God by sin (Romans 3:23). God sent His Son as a provision for our salvation through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead (Romans 5:8). Doing good deeds is not enough (Ephesians 2:8-9), but receiving the free gift of salvation is (John 1:12).

You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right now by praying something like the following:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I need Your forgiveness and grace. I believe that Christ paid the penalty for my sin, and He died in my place, and He rose from the dead. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sin and making me Your child. Help me to grow and learn how to serve You. Amen.

A PRAYER for SANCTIFYING GRACE

Dear Lord, thank You for Your sanctifying grace. I know I cannot become more like Jesus in my own effort or work. I promise daily to present myself to You, so that through Your Spirit, You can shape me, transform me to look, think and act like Jesus. Amen.