“For the message of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”            I Corinthians. 1:18

God’s love undergirds everything He does.  I must see His gracious nature in the work of sanctification or I will miss this ~ God loves me so much that He will keep saving me.  

If I only see the cross as what was necessary to make me a child of God, I will miss the loveliness of sanctification.  In today’s scripture, Paul was writing to believers.  When he spoke of  ‘’being saved’, he wasn’t talking about the moment salvation occurs.  He was referring to something else ~ ongoing salvation from sin.  Daily sanctification.

*Every single day, we will battle with our motives.  We need to remember the cross and ask God to save us from selfish desires and hidden intentions.

*Every single day, we battle with careless talk, anger, despair, and criticism.  We need to remember the cross and ask God to save us from our personal strongholds.

*Every single day, we want to embrace what is temporarily satisfying over what needs to be deferred until eternity.  We need to remember the cross and ask God to save us from self-gratification.

These comprise the daily battle.  This is the fight for faith.  Whatever I choose to neglect will become easier to avoid.  Neglect is like a cancer.  Neglect will metastasize.

Salvation is near me today.  The cross centered life is meant to be mine.  Jehovah Mekaddishkem graciously offers me daily salvation from the tempter, the liar, the strategic planner, the deceiver, and most of all – from myself and my own flesh.

  I get it, Lord.  Conviction and sanctification are priceless gifts.  Thank you.  Amen