Raw Dog

Someone once said "anyone can look nice but scratch below the surface you get raw dog." It is rather a vulgar saying but bears some truth. Before Christ changed us, our natural tendency was to make decisions based on personal needs. Our motive may have been power, a good reputation, money, comfort, stability, revenge, recognition, sexual desire, lusts, or any number of natural motivations.

But as Christ followers, every decision has a foundation of glorifying our Father. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit as he gives us what we need to keep our body, soul and spirit blameless until the coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Sometimes we forget to rely on the Holy Spirit and try to keep ourselves blameless by our own strength. That will always lead to failure. How blessed is Paul's next sentence, "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Spirit, Soul and Body

"I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23b).

The body is easily understood as our torso, limbs and interior organs, but how does one decipher between the spirit and soul? Some have defined the soul as our will, mind and emotions and our spirit as the essence of who we are. Scripture seems to use the words soul and spirit interchangeably (Genesis 17:14; Matthew 10:28; Acts 2:27; Romans 1:9; 1Corinthians 2:11, 12:13; Philippians 4:23).

Our soul and our spirit are as closely associated as the marrow with the bone and our thoughts and our motives (Hebrews 4:12). Yet God is able to distinguish one from the other.

The point of Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians is that every part of us is committed to being and acting in a blameless manner.

Atheistic Good Works

People who do not know God do good works. They feed the poor, build schools in foreign countries, raise money for cancer research, build community awareness, and volunteer time, money and effort to help others (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Good works do not put us in right relationship with God. That is why the second half of Hebrews 13:21 is so important. The God of peace will not only perfect us in every good work but he will also work in us what is well pleasing to him. God is making us more like him (Romans 8:28-29).

Finding God's Will

Paul mentions the God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We are looking at the five places in the New Testament that describes what the God of peace will do. Today we look at Hebrews 13:20-21. "The God of peace will perfect you in every good work to do his will."

Growing up as a Christian I did a lot of worrying about how to find God's will for my life. Basing major decisions on the feeling or sense that something was his will instead of on principles of sound wisdom, I made mistakes that resulted in much pain for me and others. I found myself in a continual state of unrest. That was precisely because I thought I had to figure out his will.

Scripture tells us God has all we need that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and we have the promise that he will perfect us in every good work. We can rest assured that God can open and close doors for us (Revelation 3:8). There is no need to be anxious. As we rest in the knowledge that he will direct us, and as we spend time with him in prayer, we can make decisions based on godly principles and wisdom.


God will direct your path (Psalm 37:23; 119:105; Philippians 2:13).