Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
For far too long, the Bible subject of sanctification has been focused on all the things we are NOT supposed to do, places we are NOT supposed to go, and things we are NOT supposed to do. This misses the entire point of the Bible doctrine of Sanctification. Let me use a very special illustration: The ONE! Many, if not most of you, are breathlessly awaiting the ONE! The one person who was meant just for you. Your soul mate, the love of your life, the person who will become your spouse and best friend for life. When that person comes along, you will stand before a preacher and gladly, with all your heart, pledge to forsake all others to gain that ONE very special love. It will be the happiest day of your life, and everything and everyone else will be like yesterday’s used bubble gum wrapper in comparison to your One True Love. Friend, when that happens, you will have experienced the reality of sanctification. You were set apart TO someone. To say Yes to the ONE, you had to choose to say NO to everyone else (but it’s worth it, right?). To say yes to God, having that real and special relationship with Him, is no different. Don’t focus on who or what you are saying NO to, focus on the fact that you are saying Yes, God, I want a relationship with you. Yes, God, I want to know your love, your friendship, your companionship, your presence, your blessings, your goodness, your will. Yes, God, I want You! The first and most critical step to walking with God is not saying NO to a million things of the world, it’s simply saying one BIG YES to God. Say Yes to God, and it’s easy to say no to everything else.
Robert Pophal | Pastor
Rose Park Baptist Church | Holland, Michigan
www.rpbcholland.org