Friday 1 September 2023

Today is Friday the 1st of September, in the 21st week of Ordinary time.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Inhliziyo Zethu’: ‘You will make my heart pure’. A pure heart is a heart that is open to God, that doesn’t seek its own advantage, but wants whatever God wants. As I enter into prayer today, I ask for that openness of heart. I ask the Lord to lead my heart to him, to guide me in the way he wants me to go.

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Today’s reading is from the First Letter to the Thessalonians.


1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you knows how to control your own body in holiness and honour, not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one wrongs or exploits a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Does the way I live please God?

Do I allow God to love me as I am whilst asking for God’s transforming help to work on my weaknesses?

Sanctification - making holy. What does it look like to you to be made holy by God?

God calls us to live a holy life. And Paul lays out quite plainly here to the new church in Thessalonica what aspects of holiness God expects. Here, it’s about deep physical respect for others. What does that look like to you today, in the world around you, in society? What are your own attitudes?


As you hear the passage again, let the words speak. Notice that closing phrase about God giving His Holy Spirit. God gives his Holy Spirit in place of all that degrades. And that came at a physical, painful, humiliating cost.


As this prayer time comes to a close, speak with God - “who also gives his Holy Spirit” - about whatever is on your heart.


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.