“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
One of the most encouraging things about Paul’s prayers is how confident they are. We have been discovering in this series that Paul doesn’t pray timidly or vaguely. He prays knowing that God is already at work in His people and will surely finish what He has started. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, Paul gives us another prayer we can use for each other — a prayer that asks God to make us whole.
Sanctified through and through
Paul begins by praying that “the God of peace” will “sanctify us through and through.” It’s a picture of God shaping every part of our lives. Think of a craftsman restoring an old piece of furniture. At first glance it looks fine — maybe a bit worn, a bit faded — but when the craftsman begins, he discovers scratches beneath the polish, joints that need tightening, wood that needs nourishing. He doesn’t stop halfway. He keeps working until the whole piece is renewed. That’s what Paul is praying for: God’s deep, patient, restoring work in every corner of our lives, making us holy and more like him in every fibre of our being.
Spirit, soul and body: praying for the whole person
Then Paul prays that our spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless. It’s a wonderfully holistic prayer. We are not just spiritual beings; we are emotional and physical too. God has created us in such a way that it is difficult to completely separate out the different parts of our being – the spiritual, emotional, and physical are closely bound together and impact each other. When one tyre on your car is slightly deflated, the whole vehicle will pull to one side. One small weakness affects the whole journey. Paul knows that when one part of us is strained — spiritually, emotionally, or physically — everything else feels the impact. So he prays for God’s protection and strengthening of the whole person, that sin and its pernicious effects may not win the day in our lives.
Looking forward to Christ’s return
Paul’s prayer also looks forward: he prays all this “at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s a reminder that our lives are heading somewhere. We are preparing for a day when Christ will return and all things will be made new, including us. It’s like getting the house ready for a long-awaited guest — tidying, making space, living with anticipation. We pray for each other with that same hope: that our lives will be shaped by the certain and glorious future God has promised to those who love Jesus.
The one who calls you is faithful
And then comes the line that holds the whole prayer together: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” It’s the reassurance we need. God doesn’t abandon His work halfway. He doesn’t lose interest. He doesn’t give up when we struggle. He is faithful — and He will complete His work in us. Ultimately, our growth and flourishing in this life and our future full and final redemption rest not on our feeble and finite efforts, but on God’s infinite and inexhaustible power and grace! Hallelujah!
So as we pray for one another this week, let’s pray boldly. Pray for God’s deep work. Pray for the whole person. Pray with hope. And trust that the God who calls us is faithful and will answer our prayers.
A Prayer for This Week
God of peace,
sanctify us through and through.
Strengthen our spirit, soul and body.
Keep us steady as we wait for Christ’s return.
And remind us each day that You are faithful,
and You will finish Your work in us.
Amen.
Blessings,
Revd. Rob
