August 27
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SANCTIFIED BY TRUTH
13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. – John 17:13-21
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This account is still a part of Jesus’ prayer to the heavenly Father for the sake of His disciples. He was concerned for them because He knows that they will still be in the world while He is joining His Father soon. He pleads His Father to keep His disciple holy because they will be surrounded by corruption and evil. As He asks His Father, we hear much affection in His words in verses 14-19. He intimately knows his disciples very well and recognizes their challenges if He goes to join His Father. What a wonderful thing to know that every need of these disciples will be met! Jesus knows their suffering and how they will be marinated in persecution, evil and attacks. This is why He was interceding for them so that His Father can sanctify them in truth. In verse 20, Jesus wants the disciples to be protected by the truth which comes only from God’s word. He wants to ensures that they are kept pure by Scriptures. The aim for such sanctity is so that they will be united with the Father and Himself as well.
Jesus mentions also that this is not only the case for His disciples, but also for anyone who believes in Him through Scriptures.
The main reason why all believers need to be sanctified is because they will be witnesses for the Father and the Son. It will bring glory to them both. It will lead others to believe and want to know Jesus and the Father more.
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REFLECTION
• Why do we need to be sanctified when we become followers of Jesus?
• What happens when Christians do not keep pure for the Lord?
• Why is it important to worship the Lord in truth?