“Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” – Leviticus 20:8

“For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” – Romans 6:19b

To be sanctified is to be set apart by God for God’s purposes.  It’s the next step after justification (where God makes us righteous by God’s righteousness through Jesus).

Most people with a cursory understanding of scripture and biblical doctrine know this.

So my question is: Do you believe it?

Do you really truly believe to your core that you have been set apart by God for His specific purposes? That there are things He has called you to do that He has not called others? That part of His sovereign will includes your participation with Him to accomplish His will?

I doubt it.

I don’t say this hypocritically. I say this from personal experience.

I have tried to figure out exactly what prevents me from really embracing this truth and I think it is related to two factors.

1. We’re always sure there is someone else more competent out there to do whatever God has asked us to do.

And there probably is.  While at first glance, this sentiment may appear to be humility, I believe it is more nearly a form of pride.  We are looking at the calling as a strictly human task that will have human results.  In light of this, we decide that we should be a gentleman and let God know that there is someone better.

What we’re really saying is “God, I know you thought I was the guy/girl for this job but you’re going to have to look elsewhere.  I’m flattered though and will figure out a way to tell this story so that other people will see how awesome and humble I am at the same time.”

Maybe this isn’t always the case.  But whatever the case, we have to remember that we are really saying more about our view of God’s abilities than our own abilities.

I have oft quoted this verse because it applies to so much in life. Phillipians 2:13 says,

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It is by God’s power that we accomplish his purposes.

2.  We forget that it is God who has called us and begin focusing on His human agents.

Recently we began a new ministry at Grace (Ev Free).  We formed 6 new small groups of ~50 or so people.  The goal being to disciple each other while simultaneously reaching out to the community. It’s exciting. It’s been a testament to God’s graciousness. It’s become larger than we ever expected and we can see how He has been working in each of our lives to prepare us for this time.

I have the privilege of reading one of these small groups.

So where is the problem?

I have been focused on what we were humanly accomplishing.  I started to think of myself as “sanctified by Josh Stone” or “sanctified by Grace Church”, or worse: “sanctified by my own need to challenge myself”.

This had a significant impact on the way I started viewing this responsibility.  For instance, if I am sanctified by God, this suggests certain things I will do to prepare for the tasks ahead.

I might:

• Pray generally for my small group and specifically for each member.
• I might study the Bible.
• I might spend time meditating and focusing on being sensitive to God’s leading by His Spirit.

But, if I am sanctified by Grace Church this is going to change my behavior.  I might:

• Try to be a really fun guy so that people will want to join my group.
• I might read books on leadership.
• I might arrange to meet with church leadership to understand their vision more fully.

The difference is stark. The contrast is clear.

To avoid this requires an honest assessment of ourselves. While my actions were focusing on human “sanctification” my mouth was telling a different story. I was still refering to it as “God’s ministry”. But I didn’t believe it.

As believers, we have been called to something greater than ourselves. We have been called to participate with God in His sovereign plan. Paul says “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

So next time God calls you to do something I would encourage you to remember that it is by God’s power that you are able to accomplish His will.

And also, remember Who has sanctified you.