Thursday, October 2, 2014

By the Truth

John 17:17-23

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

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.


The red words of Jesus. Jesus is praying to His Father for His disciples. They have heard the truth, believed it and will be sent into the world to share it. Jesus again shows that He and the Father are one. When we come to Christ and believe as these men did we become one in Spirit. Christ's Spirit in us, and that means the Spirit of God resides in us also. It is our duty to share His words.

But not everyone has this Spirit. We do not have this Spirit until we receive Christ and believe the words of truth He (and His Father) spoke. Through Christ we become joined with Christ not only in His sufferings but in sharing the love of Christ with others.

Real life begins when we first hear the words of truth. By the truth we believe and are set free, now able to be sanctified along with others who have done the same. Again, we must receive (it's all about receiving)...the truth. Jesus is truth because He is the Word...made flesh. It's too marvelous!

Even as I read these few verses this morning I felt an excitement come over me. My heart was stirred. That's what the word of truth does. I thought...my spirit is quickened. I had to look up the meaning of that word. (Of course!)

Quicken, Strong's Concordance:
To give life, make alive.
By spiritual power to arouse and invigorate.
To restore to life.
Of the spirit, endured with new and greater powers of life

And that's what His Word does. It gives life. We think we have life on this earth but real life is in Christ. Scripture says the world and it's desires will pass away, but those who do God's will will live forever...and God's Word, both in word and flesh, will never--never--pass away. (1John 2:17, Matthew 24:35)

Though we see God and His Word being shunned, blasphemed and despised, thought of as offensive, it will not pass away because it is from Him. It is truth in a world that does not want to know the truth...which does not want to know Christ...who will not be made alive by the truth. But there are some of you who do not believe. (John 6:64) This is sad.

Lord God, it is never too late for anyone to change their mind about You. Quicken their spirits to receive more abundant life in You. You call people daily. Somehow they don't hear. Open their ears and hearts to receive the truth that is You.

John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

No comments:

Post a Comment