’Til We Meet Again

Paul's prayer to close this letter is also a promise. He asks God to sanctify us completely — and then immediately tells us why we can count on it: the One who called us is faithful, and He will do it. The gap between who we are and who God has called us to be is real. But it is not a gap He has left for us to close on our own.

There is a reason Paul points to God's faithfulness right after asking for our complete sanctification. He knows we cannot get there ourselves. But God works on our willer and our doer — He makes us want what He wants and do what He calls us to do. Our part is simply to stop resisting and make ourselves available. The letter that began with grace ends with grace. Everything in between — instruction, correction, comfort, prophecy — happened inside the envelope of God's undeserved favor. Go into this week the same way: not straining to earn what has already been given, but living from it.