Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NASB) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.
Devotional: How often do you pause to ponder the connection between your body, soul, and spirit? These are all part of what makes us who we are, and we can see from today’s passage that God works in and through these to sanctify us. That is, to be set apart for His unique purpose.
Unfortunately, we are seeing an epidemic of broken bodies, souls, and spirits, manifesting itself in debilitating anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide thoughts, and attempts. Perhaps you’ve struggled in one or more of these areas. You are not alone.
As Paul prays for the church in Thessalonica, he shows God’s care for each of us and His desire for our innermost parts to be complete, whole, and preserved. The original Greek words are “tereo “– to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard. And “holokleros” – without blemish or defect. And the good news? God is faithful in the midst of our struggles.
In the coming weeks, we will walk together through the harsh realities of this kind of brokenness; Scripture is filled with many examples of those who are afflicted. And we will discover the hope that can be found in the midst of despair and anguish.
Reflect:
- What beliefs do you currently hold when it comes to mental health issues?
- What role has Scripture played in your beliefs?
