Becoming What I Was Created to Be
I remember when I accepted Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior eight years ago. I was intentional about growing my faith and sharing it with others. But as I got older, living faithfully, producing spiritual fruit, and being in community became more difficult.
Choosing to live a Christian life did not make me a perfect person. When I fall back into sin, I often am disappointed in myself that I had failed again.
Sometimes, I attempt to make it up to God, even though I know that the foundation of my faith is God’s grace. I forget that my God chose to save me, a broken human being...our God chose to save us, a broken world.
Sanctified by the Spirit
Choosing to live a Christian life did not make the hard things in life easy. When I accepted Jesus to be Savior, I invited him to be Lord of my life too. As Lord, he desires me to be what I was created to be.
...“God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”...
To be sanctified means to be made pure. Choosing to live the Christian life includes the journey of sanctification through the Spirit. So when God confronts my sin, I am reminded that Jesus isn’t just my Savior, but that he is also my Lord.
Called to Share in the Glory
Deciding to follow Jesus was not just an invitation into a spiritual experience, but it was an invitation into something eternal.
...“He called you to this through our Gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”...
There is a purpose behind the pain, the blessings, the tears, and the joy, all of the things that shape us to be more Christ-like. Salvation comes through the Gospel. Sanctification comes through salvation. And sharing in the glory of Christ comes through the sanctifying works of the Spirit.
So Stand Firm
So I will not be discouraged by my failures. Instead I will look to God for encouragement and strength.
“Ħbrothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
I will hold onto the promises that God has given me through His Word. I have a God (we have a God), who chose us from the beginning and will be with us till the end.
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“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17
Santine Hsueh is a nursing major and also a Greek ñ student leader.
