Daily Devotional

-November 18, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Sanctified By The Word Of Truth-

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

(John 17:17-19).

John chapter 17 contains Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers which includes us. In today’s text our Savior’s words indicate how important sanctification is and that God sanctifies us by the Word of truth. Jesus uses the word sanctify twice and sanctified once.

In the NT, the Greek word hagios is translated holy, sanctify, separate, and set apart. Jesus saved us from our sins and through faith in Him and His finished work on the cross we are saved and sanctified. We are no longer our own, we are bought with a price.

Just as the Father sent His Son into the world, our Savior has sent us into the world to serve Him and share the gospel with those around us. He has given us His Word to share with the lost and to teach and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a great privilege and responsibility. He has called us, equipped us, and sends us forth as His witnesses. We are ambassadors for Christ, light and salt in this sinful world.

To be effective in His service we must be sanctified in and by the truth. His desire for us is to be separated from the world and to be set apart for Christ. These two things go together, you can’t have one without the other. It is like a two sided coin: on one side separation and on the other sanctification. If we are separated from the defilement of the world we must also be set apart as holy, godly, righteous people. We must obey the Word and live holy lives that are different than those in the world.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” Peter wrote, “But like He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

May the Lord who sanctified us through His precious blood, separate us from the sin, wickedness, and evil of this world and set us apart for Himself and His service. We thus live holy lives before others. The Bible is our guide in everything.

Have a blessed day in separation and sanctification. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean