Body, Soul, and Spirit

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Today's Treasure: "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

God created us as whole creatures made of three different components: body, soul and spirit. If we see God as Lord of our spirits alone, we will live in areas of defeat. God is as surely Lord of our souls and bodies as He is our spirits. It's all His turf. In fact, take a refreshing look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

First of all, please celebrate the glorious fact that God Himself is the One at work in you and through you. He hasn't just assigned you a mighty angel. God is thoroughly interested and involved in every single part of you: body, soul, and spirit.

Second, notice that the verse identifies God specifically as the God of peace. The Word of God is perfectly inspired; therefore, every identification of God, every name He is called, is in perfect context. In this case the inference of the title is that the believer will be awash with God's peace when every part of the life—body, soul and spirit—is surrendered to His wise, loving and liberating authority. I know far too well how distant the peace of God is when we refuse to bow a part of our lives to His rule. Peace is the fruit of authority—God's authority. As Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of Christ rule." (emphasis mine). Christ brings His peace where He is Prince. That's what the title "Prince of Peace" represents.

Third, don't miss what God Himself desires to do. First Thessalonians 5:23 proceeds to tell us that this glorious God of peace wants to sanctify us "through and through." The original Greek word for "sanctify" is hagiazo, meaning "to make clean, render pure,...to consecrate, devote, set apart from a common to a sacred use,...to regard and venerate as holy, to hallow."  In other words, God deeply desires for us to grant Him total access to set apart every single part of our lives—body, soul and spirit—to His glorious work. Always keep in mind that anything to God's glory is also for our good. The two concepts are never at odds. God's inclusion of the physical body is proof among many others in Scripture that He cares deeply what happens to these tents of flesh in which we dwell. Indeed, our physical bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit in this dispensation of God's kingdom calendar (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Awesome God, I desire for every part of my being to be consecrated unto You. I lift up my body, soul and spirit to You and ask You to work in me and through me for Your glory. Thank You for the way You made me and for Your faithfulness to sanctify me through and through. I love You so much. Amen.

*Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, #37, 69

Adapted from Praying God's Word, by Beth Moore, pages 148-149. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. Used by permission.