By: Heidi Jo Fulk
I 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. (NIV)
These are my #1 weapon verses. I memorized these two verses about eight years ago when I was desperately seeking to renew my mind and thoughts. I knew I needed to “take every thought captive to obey Christ”, so every time I was tempted or a sinful thought or image would come into my mind, I would say these two verses. Out loud, in my head—whatever I needed to do. Still do. Sometimes over and over like scrubbing a crusty pan with a scouring pad until those thoughts are gone. Captive.
Here’s why I chose them.
Look at how they begin—with God Himself. The God of peace. Then sanctification—the amazing process of God making us like Christ—through every part of our lives. And what are some of the results of God making us like His Son? That our whole spirit, soul, and body might be kept blameless. Blameless? How could I ever be blameless?! (Here comes the best part.) I can’t. You can’t. But…“The one who calls you is faithful, and HE will do it.” The God who calls us to holiness ALSO equips and enables us to be holy. He is faithful. He will do it.
So what’s our response? What action is required on our part? We need to obey. We must know Truth and seek to live it out through and because of Christ. 3
He is faithful. How will you, in your daily situations and struggles, let Him “do it”?
HEIDI JO FULK is passionate about encouraging woman and girls to love and live God’s word. She is wife to her high school sweetheart, Dan, and mom to their four young children — Emma Jo, Gretchen, Tucker and Brock. Heidi leads a women’s Bible study and an elementary girls’ ministry at her church.