As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

“Sanctified” is an interesting and, many times, misunderstood term. What does it really mean? How is this process conducted? What is my part in the sanctification process?

Sanctified has a meaning of being set apart, elevated in status, and of a pure and noble nature. It makes me think of the process by which the Jews had to wash themselves after touching something unclean, or maybe the way a clean room is sanitized before microchips can be made. As applied in this spiritual context, it means cleansed from sin and set apart for a holy purpose, to serve the Almighty God.

This is reinforced by Paul’s caution for them not to engage in the sexual immorality or passionate lusts of the pagans (God-less ones). Passionate lust is not always just sexual, but describes things we crave for and must have above honoring God. “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭24‬)

Nothing can come between me and my relationship with God — not possessions, family, friends, jobs, careers, or any other thing.  And in follow-up to this, Paul tells them not to take advantage of their brother or sister. So much for the old saying: “all is fair in love and war.” I have seen too many people act without honesty and integrity and then wash their hands of the action with some counterweight of a good deed they dream up. God hates this behavior that treats others like a means to an end.

Instead we are to be holy, honorable, and reflectors of God’s glory into a human race full of sin, lies, and deception.

Lord, protect my heart. Help me to flee from immorality and the lusts of man. May I continually go to you and your people for help. And may I serve you faithfully and with honor, I pray!