Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

July 12– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Sanctified by God the Father.” 

—Jude 1

Also:
“Sanctified in Christ Jesus.” –I Corinthians 1:2
“Through sanctification of the Spirit.” –I Peter 1:2

Notice the union of the Three Divine Persons in all of their gracious activity. It is unwise for any Christian to make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity—- to think of Jesus as if he were the embodiment of everything lovely and gracious while regarding the Father as severely just and destitute of kindness. And just as wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father and the atonement of the Son but seem to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In works of grace, none of the Persons of the Trinity act apart from the others. They are as united in their actions as they are in their being.

Today, we especially notice this in the matter of sanctification. We may rightly speak of sanctification as the work of the Spirit, but we must also understand that the Father and the Son share in that work as well. Even in Creation God said, “Let us make man in our own image after our likeness.” And later we find all three Persons co-working to produce a holy Church without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.”

And you, believer, as the follower of Christ, must also set a high value on holy living. Value the blood of Christ as the foundation of your hope in God the Father, and rejoice in the work of the Spirit who makes you fit to receive your inheritance. [M&E]