Charles Stanley (August 25, 2025) Daily Devotional: Set Apart for God.
When we follow the Holy Spirit's leading, we increasingly become like Christ.
Ephesians 4:17-24 - So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
By placing faith in Jesus, a person becomes a believer and is sanctified—that is, set apart for God’s purposes. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. We who are followers of the Savior should be letting the Spirit lead us. If that’s already the case, we are now being sanctified. In other words, we’re progressively maturing in our faith.
Logic dictates that for us to be progressing, we must be working our way toward something. Paul explained the Christian’s mission: “For those whom [God] foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 - For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren). A believer’s character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Jesus. God has given each believer His Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide. The Spirit works to transform the mind and heart so that we reflect the Lord to those around us. When we allow the Spirit to direct us, we speak and act in accordance with our true identity as a child of God.
Our Father wants His children to be living examples of Him. However, He doesn’t expect perfection—He knows we can’t be totally sinless. But His Spirit will give guidance about how to think and act so we may “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called” (Ephesians 4:1 - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called).
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