Blameless and Holy

DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
BLAMELESS AND HOLY
1 Thess 3:12-13
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
NIV
It certainly is my heart which needs strengthening by God in order that I will be blameless and holy in his presence. Left to my own devices I am quite sure my heart would not be resolute toward God. It would not be set fast on him. But my heart is and not because of me but because of him. Sure I had to yield my heart for his strengthening, Just as God strengthened or increase his resolution in a certain direction the already hard heart of Pharaoh, God increases my resolution toward him. I certainly cannot count myself or make myself blameless and holy in his presence. That is completely due to his power and grace. The only reason I am blameless is because of Jesus. I am not actually blameless, but because of Jesus, God considers me blameless. I will not be blamed for my sin. That certainly doesn’t mean I don’t have any. I would be both deceiving myself and lying to God if I was to go around claiming I did not sin in word, thought or deed. I think it is absolutely ludicrous for anyone to think of themselves in that manner. Just thinking, much less saying that I do not sin in word, thought or deed would constitute spiritual pride which of course is sin. No, the only blameless and holy that I am is because God declares me so because I am in Christ. For this I am eternally grateful and my heart is strengthened each and every day I as I contemplate on his grace and mercy in my life. I know that without him I would have been doomed and headed for a road to destruction. My heart is also strengthened knowing that one day I will stand in the awesome presence of my Lord and my God and will be reunited with those I loved who have gone before me. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see.