PURPOSEFUL PRAYER

THURSDAY 02 JUNE 2022

Paul prayed a purposeful prayer, asking God to set the Thessalonian saints right, by consecrating them, which was regarded as an ongoing process that would bring them to completeness and perfection, such that they would be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ or upon His glorious return.

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 New International Version (NIV) "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."

I see the above referenced Scriptures as a purposeful prayer because of the eternal relevance. Paul's utmost desire is for the true God of peace to make the saints holy in every way, and keep their whole spirit, soul and body blameless in their preparation to meet our Lord Jesus Christ who is coming again. Then he assured that God would make this happen, by virtue of His faithful.

Since the purpose is to keep us fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ, without blame, the right question is - what is "Without blame"? Without blame here means - above reproach, faultless and perfect. It is the Greek word, "amemptos" which suggests being free from fault or impurity or a state of being spotless and unblemish. It is also a word that guarantees the absence of the burden of guilt and sin consciousness. According to today's verses, this is what God intends and does for us. He sanctifies us in Christ, in order to keep our spirit, soul and body, whole and blameless.

Beloved, blame is a powerful negativity. There are Christians who live with it. When you embrace a blameworthy mindset, it can truly have a serious negative effect on how you see or perceive yourself and can even affect your belief system and identity in Christ. This is because blame is a judgment-centered disapproval, on which the "responsibility for a fault or wrong" becomes the reaction the blamer apportions to an individual to keep them guilt-ridden. And guess what! The real blamer is the Devil. In Revelation 12:10 (AMP), he is called the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters. He accuses them and keeps bringing charges of all sorts against them, in order to label them "blameworthy" before God.

Surpassingly, Christ has dealt with all blames and transgressions on the cross. In line with this divine viewpoint, Psalm 103:11-12 says, "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (NKJV). Therefore, as true Christians, all we need is to thank God who has called us in Christ and qualified us to be innocent and free from every wrongdoing because Christ has experienced the sin-borne affliction, including all the blame record, in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and freely live for righteousness.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) reads, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Beloved, blame, as well as other weight such as burden of guilt, hurt and bad memory, are all designed to slow you down in your Christian race. If you are born again, you can't afford to entertain what Christ had already borne on His body, and had endured the shame that accompanied them all on the cross. Therefore, remember that the One who called you is completely dependable. If He said that He would keep you blameless, he'll do it! All you need to do is to live freely in Christ by casting all your cares on Him because He really cares for you (See 1 Peter 5:7 NET). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 119:1; Proverbs 2:7; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 3:13.

Exuberant Declaration: I have found the joy of sharing in the complete victory and triumph of Christ on the cross which is an eternal purpose that establishes my justification and sanctification. I've been made and declared righteous in Christ Jesus, which is the enabling nature that keeps me blameless and pure within my spirit, soul and body. By my steady and trustful dependence on God's faithfulness, I'm continually kept spotless and unblemish through the Word, which is my hope and joy of basking in the glory of Christ's appearance when He comes. Blessed be God!