John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Scripture Insights
This is the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. In this intense moment, he does not pray for himself but for you and me. His eyes have not shifted their focus away from the ones he came to seek and save. His desire for us in this moment is evident.
His prayer is that God would sanctify us—that God would do what only God can do and fill us with holy love. Some have understood “sanctify” as meaning “set apart so we are not infected with the sins of the world around us.” However, the true understanding of sanctification is for us to be “set apart (filled with God’s holy love) so the world around us can be impacted by God’s love.”
Jesus prays that God would sanctify us “by the truth”—that the work of God would be authentic in us and therefore lived out authentically in the world around us. He desires for us to be filled with God’s love so that our daily living would draw others to him because of God’s love.
Today’s Prayer
God, please fill me with your love today. Allow the words I say and actions I take to reflect your love in me so that those around me are drawn to you.
—Jason Caddy
CotN District Superintendent, North Carolina
