Christ Our Sanctifier
Dear Friends,
When I was a child, I did not appreciate correction. It went against my will and desires—what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, or what I wanted to have. The routine was always the same: first came the initial “No,” which sparked the frustration of not getting my way. A tantrum would follow, and then came the correction. Afterward, there was the seemingly endless wait for my will to break, leading me back into the arms of my parent for comfort.
My parents didn’t hate me. In fact, the opposite is true. They loved me deeply. They loved me enough to refuse to let me develop attitudes and actions that would hinder my growth into adulthood. Their goal was to raise a person who respected God and others. Looking back, I am so thankful they didn’t leave me to my own wayward desires.
Our heavenly Father is the same when it comes to His children. Yes, Christ died for us, offering the incredible blessing of forgiveness. What a gift! Through Christ, we are forgiven and made right with God. But as a good Father, God doesn’t stop at justification. He calls us to grow and change, to be transformed into children who reflect His character. This process is called sanctification.
God loves us too much to allow us to go through life with harmful attitudes or flawed judgment. His Holy Spirit lives in us, guiding and challenging us to become more like Him. Yet, like little children, we often resist God’s loving correction because it doesn’t align with our own plans and desires.
When we experience the gentle or firm correction of our Father, it’s easy to feel frustrated or even discouraged. But let’s pause and remember how much our Father loves us. His correction is not punitive but purposeful. It is designed for our good, to mold us into His image and prepare us for His purposes.
God longs to have deep, meaningful conversations with us. His joy is in seeing His children grow in faith, love, and obedience. So, as we face His refining hand, may our hearts be quick to trust His love and wisdom. Let us run to Him, not away, knowing His desire is to shape us into vessels that bring Him glory.
Let’s embrace His correction with humility and gratitude, praying, “Father, thank You for loving me enough to guide and shape me. Help me to trust Your correction and grow into the person You’ve created me to be. My desire is to please You and reflect Your goodness in all I do.”
With Gratitude, Pastor Jesse
