Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV
Sanctified Completely
There is a distinction between a product that says “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada.” “Product of Canada” claims are subject to a higher threshold of Canadian content (98%), while “Made in Canada” claims are subject to a 51% threshold of Canadian content but should be accompanied by a qualifying statement indicating that the product contains imported content. In both cases, the last substantial transformation of the product must have occurred in Canada. The Competition Bureau sets guidelines for producers to ensure that packaging is correctly marked.
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I was watching the antique roadshow a few years ago and someone brought in some jewelry that had been worn by Queen Victoria, at least that’s what they were told. It turns out these were not hers, but they were told if they had been they would be priceless because they had belonged to the Queen. Those of us who belong to Jesus because of His death and resurrection are the jewels in His crown. That makes us priceless and set apart for Him alone. That is the meaning of sanctification – to be set apart for God’s holy purposes and to represent His holy nature in the world. No wonder Paul says this to the Christians in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is God’s work in us that sets us apart and makes us holy. The more we surrender our will to His, and offer our lives for Him alone, the more we will be like Jesus, longing for His coming.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley