When we moved into the house where we currently live, the backyard was full of weeds and uneven grass. Little by little, we have been improving it, and now it is a cozy place where we host gatherings for young people, women, families, and more.
My backyard is sacred because it is set apart for the purpose of receiving people in life-giving gatherings. As we said yesterday, the word "sacred" means separated, set apart. And God has set us apart to fulfill His purpose.
When it was full of weeds, my backyard did not fulfill the purpose of receiving people and making them feel comfortable. We had to invest time and decide to work on removing the bad and adding good things so that it would fulfill its purpose.
Our sanctification process is similar. We all have a purpose to fulfill, but we also have things that hinder us. Things like fears, comparisons, addictions, and laziness delay us from living out our purpose. So, it is up to us to intentionally decide to work on removing the bad and adding good things in our lives to advance towards fulfilling the purpose for which we were set apart.
“So live as obedient children of God. Don’t go back to your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 NLT
Sanctification leads you to fulfill your calling. My backyard would not have seen its calling (purpose) fulfilled of being a place where life is imparted to others if it had not been cleaned and decorated.
Your calling might require you to dedicate some hours of your time to seek God's presence, to identify the ugly things you need to remove from your life, and to ask Him to reveal the good things He has already placed in you that give life to others.
Remember, this is a continuous process. If my backyard needs weekly cleaning and care to receive people, how much more does your life need daily care to exercise your calling!
Written by Celia Guevara de Preza, based on the sermon from June 1, 2024
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