For it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 3:14-4:5, I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

It’s wonderful that He has come and done for us all that we could never do. The mind of man seeks to find some way to justify himself before a Holy, almighty, creative and powerful living God; meanwhile, He who created all things came to us in the flesh and has become for us “the way, the truth and the life.” And when we recognize Him and put all of our trust in what He has done for us, we can truly joyfully blessing all that He has created around us. We have no need for asceticism to prove our worth to our Father for in the Son we are worthy. When He looks at us, He sees Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith!

We thank You for Your great mercy and for our freedom in Christ to receive Your creation with thanksgiving and prayerfully sanctify it by Your word!

ESV Lectionary