Seems like America is becoming less and less “Christian” in any real sense of the word. The abominable state of our secular colleges and universities, our anti-God and anti-Bible culture, opening our borders to anti-Christian aliens for the purpose of their votes, weak churches and weak pastors not “contending earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints (Jude) ...all of these are contributing to an anti-Christian America. But perhaps the main cause of the degeneracy of America has to do with today's Christians themselves. We have lost the personal meaning of “sanctification.” By that I mean, we've lost the meaning of what it takes to be the corrective “salt” and “light” demanded by Jesus (Matthew 5:13-20). Today's Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, confronts us with this damning truth:

“Are we prepared to pay the cost of sanctification? The cost will be a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God's point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God's purpose alone. Are we really prepared for God to perform in us everything for which He separated us? And after He has done His work, are we then prepared to separate ourselves to God just as Jesus did? “For their sakes I sanctify Myself…” (John 17:19). The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God's perspective. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us. Are we really prepared for what that will cost? It will cost absolutely everything in us which is not of God.

Are we prepared to say, “Lord, make me, a sinner saved by grace, as holy as You can”? Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father (see John 17:21-23). The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person's life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit's work in us?”

The Mennen Skin Bracer commercial of 1972 showed a man splashing on an alcohol laced after-shave and then responding to the shock to his raw, shaven face. He exclaimed, “Wow...I needed that!” The “Skin Bracer” woke him up...ready for his day. I think most of us need a healthy dose of “spiritual bracer.” We need the conviction of what Chambers wrote for February 8 above. It's the “bracer” that will wake us up to our roles of “salt” and “light” needed to influence our degenerating culture. Nothing of which Chambers pointed out will be easy. Jesus pointed that out too when He stated:

“28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it ... 34 “Therefore, salt is good, but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, [j]let him hear.” (Luke 14:25-35)

This is where the men are separated from the boys...where the women are separated from the girls. This country, this culture, this world, needs men and women who understand what it means to be “sanctified”...the cost and the purpose.

My prayer for you and me this day is this...Lord, we want to be “totally in” resulting in our “sanctification.” Forgive us of our negligence. our lack of commitment. Use us this day as Your “salt” and “light.” Amen

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.