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Sanctification of the Whole Man, August 10
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:23, 24
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The truth must sanctify the whole man—his mind, his thoughts, his
heart, his strength. His vital powers will not be consumed upon his own
lustful practices. These must be overcome, or they will overcome him....
The thoughts need purifying. What might not men and women have been
had they realized that the treatment of the body has everything to do with
the vigor and purity of mind and heart.
The true Christian obtains an experience which brings holiness. He is
without a spot of guilt upon the conscience, or a taint of corruption upon
the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its limiting principles,
is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiates his understanding. A
glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away the miasma which has
interposed between his soul and God. The will of God has become his will,
pure, elevated, refined, and sanctified. His countenance reveals the light of
heaven. His body is a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. Holiness adorns his
character. God can commune with him; for soul and body are in harmony
with God....
God would have us realize that He has a right to mind, soul, body, and
spirit—to all that we possess. We are His by creation and by redemption.
As our Creator, He claims our entire service. As our Redeemer, He has a
claim of love as well as of right—of love without a parallel. This claim
we should realize every moment of our existence.... Our bodies, our souls,
our lives, are His, not only because they are His free gift, but because He
constantly supplies us with His benefits, and gives us strength to use our
faculties.... He says, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”...
Those who are sons of God will represent Christ in character. Their
works will be perfumed by the infinite tenderness, compassion, love, and
purity of the Son of God. And the more completely mind and body are
yielded to the Holy Spirit, the greater will be the fragrance of our offering
to Him.
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