Today’s Reading: John 17:17-19
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
* * * * *
One of Jesus’ ongoing prayers to the Father is that you will be sanctified. This is a lifelong process. Over time, you are being conformed to Jesus’ image. He is working in you daily to make you holy in the same way that his Father in heaven is holy.
This process begins when you are born of the Holy Spirit. Notice he is “holy.” When he invades your heart and takes up residence, the process of being separated from the world and its evil influences begins. You start to grow in godliness, morality, and holiness.
As this takes place, you are being conformed to Jesus’ image. Your attitudes and actions start to look like his. You are more like him than you were yesterday, but probably not as much as you will be tomorrow. It is a daily, grueling, grinding, and lifelong process. Only in heaven will you be fully sanctified.
The main way sanctification occurs in you is by learning truth. There is objective, moral truth in this world. The world teaches differently— that all truth is relative. It says that truth is only as you perceive it—even if it’s contrary to another person’s view of truth.
That view is a postmodern lie. It reflects the darkness of the world. It allows everyone to do what is right in his own eyes. It’s a very dangerous place for any individual and culture to be.
Truth is found in the Word of God. It is his eternal, inerrant truth. He wrote it. He breathed it. It’s never conformed to the world’s standards. Everything in this world must be measured, tested by, and compared to God’s Word, which is ultimate truth.
Your personal holiness will grow when you study, ingest, and obey God’s Word. It reveals the world’s lies. And it shows you the Lord’s true ways—the ways in which you should walk.
You should meditate on God’s Word day and night, as opportunities come your way. As you do so, you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.12
As you follow the truths in his Word, sanctification occurs. His Word teaches, corrects, reproves, and trains you toward holiness and right living. Its truths make you live, look, and act more and more like Jesus every day. It rids you of all the filth and evil in you. It sets you free to be who God desires you to be. And God’s Word remains forever.
The Lord’s will for you is not to make you happy, but holy.
It’s not to make you comfortable, but to conform you to Jesus’ image.
That happens as you study and obey his Word. There’s no shortcut. But blessed are all who hear God’s Word and put it into practice.
God’s Word is true.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]