Day #20 | Behold 2028 Devotional

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” - John 17:17

Who knew that so much could be drawn from just one verse? God’s word is powerful and meaningful down to every letter. In John 17:17, Jesus prays, "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy Word is truth." This prayer occurred just before Jesus’ arrest, as He prepared to give His life for our sin and shame. On the night He was to be crucified, Jesus prayed that we would be made holy by God's word. John, in the opening of his gospel, clearly states that the Word is Jesus. Jesus’ prayer was that His followers would be set apart for God's purpose through the truth found in the gospel. 

The all-powerful and sovereign God is praying for us to be made holy by this truth. When He says that the Word is truth, He is literally praying that we might be perfected through His own life. 

How should we, as believers, respond to this? In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul reminds us that we have salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Knowing the weight of this prayer, we should live with deep gratitude, constantly aware of God's unending love for us. Understanding the truth should lead us to live fully for Christ, seeking daily opportunities to share the gospel with others. We should also strive to glorify God in both our actions and thoughts.

Even when we were broken and without hope, God made a way for us to be made perfect. Through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, we are living proof of God's transformational love. Consider these additional verses related to this truth: 1 Peter 1:22 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23.