Monday, June 4, 2007

Bits & Pieces: Personal Holiness (5)

"Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints," (I Thessalonians 3:11--13).

* Within this prayer of intercession, the apostle Paul requests three things for the Thessalonians: (a) to allow him to see them; (b) to cause them to abound in love; and, (c) to establish them un-blameable in holiness. "Un-blameable" does not imply perfection, but clear in conscience. No one should be able to say to us, 'you offended me, and never tried to make it right.'

* This prayer reveals the heart of the apostle Paul's desire for the Thessalonian Christians -- that they abound in love, and be un-blameable in holiness. Notice, it is the Lord who produces such love and holiness. Our responsibility is to continually yield to the Holy Spirit's leading.

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