Sanctification, Growing Older....

I've recently finished reading chapter 9 of Adorned by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. It is an excellent chapter about purity. Purity is a lost adjective in today's vernacular, at least among the worldly Christians and secular society. I've been thinking about how becoming more sanctified naturally lends itself to becoming more pure, more holy. Qualities such as these cannot be hidden; they are what a person, a woman, embodies. It is who she is. One wouldn't tell an off-color joke around her because it is understood she wouldn't appreciate the humor and would probably be offended. Because this sort of woman is polite and gracious, she likely wouldn't say anything in the midst of an uncomfortable, inappropriate exchange (assuming the Lord's name or character weren't being put in question), but she would excuse herself from continuing with the banter. May we all strive to be women who others naturally do not want to offend. When people apologize for swearing around us or curb their drinking around us, let us hope it is because they respect our positions quietly as we have quietly demonstrated our own. 

Quiet demonstrations lead to the topic this post is about, which is sanctification and how obvious it is. And how obvious it isn't. 

When someone claims to be a Christian, but shows no growth in Christlikeness, there is a lack of sanctification happening. This is a cause for concern. Reading and hearing Scripture should engage the mind and will of a follower of Jesus Christ. We should be challenged to change when we see our way of living doesn't align with God's way. Our service in church should increase the longer we're in Christ because we know our serving others is how we serve Him, using the gifts He's given us for that very purpose. Sanctification is a life-long element of a Christian's existence. This leads to the second point of this post and that is growing older. One of the many benefits of growing older is the number of years to observe life. Our own life and the lives of those around us. Time tells us all we need to know about where someone is in their walk with Christ. What is claimed to be believed will be shown or not shown over time. 

Birds of a feather flock together as the old saying goes. Who do you flock with? Who is in my flock? We will know Christians by their love and surely we know much about them by who they spend time with. Pay attention to who you spend time with. What influences you? Who are your close friends? 

We serve a powerful and good God who is interested in the sanctification of His children. He is actively available to help us not look like we looked last year, the year before that, the year before that and so on. ♥