For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified....[H]e has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him[.]....Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 1:22, and 1 Corinthians 5:7

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified....[H]e has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him[.]....Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 1:22, 1 Corinthians 5:7

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 40-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.  Today I read reason #15: To Make Us Holy, Blameless, and Perfect.  Here, John Piper explores the doctrine of sanctification.  First, he points out how some of us - myself - included grow impatient with this process and how we "groan" about it (referring to Paul and how he groaned in Philippians 3:12).  Piper then shares how Paul's statement in Philippians is key - "Christ has made me his own":  "All my reaching and yearning and striving is not to belong to Christ (which has already happened), but to complete what is lacking in my likeness to him."  Piper then describes how all believers should understand and be comforted to press on with endurance: "knowing that in the imperfection of our progress we have already been perfected—and that this is owing to the suffering and death of Christ....(see also Hebrews 10:14)....This is amazing! In the same sentence he says we are “being sanctified” and we are already 'perfected.'"  Piper continues: "[t]he joyful encouragement here is that the evidence of our perfection before God is not our experienced perfection, but our experienced progress. The good news is that being on the way is proof that we have arrived."  Piper concludes the devotion by referring us to 1 Corinthians 5:7 where Paul uses the analogy (also used elsewhere in scripture) of leavened bread and how the leaven represents sin and evil and how Christ's death on the cross brings about sanctification which is both being perfect in God's eyes while we are still being perfected.  Rejoice in how God does this!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that is at work in me while You already see me as perfect - amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of the grace You pour out for me every day, and of course for the grace You poured out for me on the cross where You shed Your blood and died for me. Thank You Jesus!  Of course I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the mercies You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.