Romans, Day 5
The Process – Sanctification
Scripture passage: Romans 5 and 6
Key verses: Romans 5:3 – 5, 6:11 – 14
As we work our way through Romans, today’s reading deals with Chapters 5 and 6, and the topic of sanctification. As you read through those 2 chapters, you will not see the word “sanctification” (at least in my version), but it is there. So, what is sanctification? One way to look at it is the action or process of being freed from sin, to become more Christlike as we go through life.
One of our core values says that we are to love people where they are. This is not something new. God loves everyone, with no exceptions. Jesus came to minister to the unhealthy as well as the healthy. When we come alongside someone, we should be loving. But it does not stop there. Think of when you first became a Christian. Are you the same person today? Hopefully, the answer to that is “No,” unless you are a new believer. It is a process and we never were promised that it would be an easy one. Just look at Verses 3 and 4 of Chapter 5. We are told that our suffering will produce perseverance which leads to building character which leads to hope.
I find it very helpful to look back every now and then to see where God has brought me. There have been some tough times, but it was in those times when I leaned on God the most. It was in those times that He sometimes had to carry me to help me get through the day. It was all part of my process of becoming more Christlike. It is a mountain that I will never reach the top of, but it sure is worth the climb.
So, where are you today? I encourage you to not only look at your own process, but also to be a part of someone else’s process. In loving someone, does this mean that we are to be accepting of their sin? Definitely not. For if we come alongside someone and love them and never try to help them grow closer to God, what good is that? Any unbeliever can do that. Love them where they are goes hand-in-hand with striving for the goal of becoming more Christlike each and every day.
Dave Kellerman