“Sanctify them by the
truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17
To sanctify is to make holy. The Lord tells us to “be holy
because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 20:26). The Bible, when read for what it is, His Holy
Spirit inspired word to man, is truth. According to Jesus in John 8:31-32,
“If you hold to my
teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.” So we may deduce that God’s word will make its reader
holy and free if it’s statutes are adhered to.
You don’t become holy and free just by reading it. You must apply its truths to your life.
Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive. Once our sins are wholly forgiven we are seen
at that moment in time as holy in God’s sight.
In a literal sense we are far from holy as we begin our spiritual
journey. We slowly begin to become holy
as we follow God’s precepts throughout our life. That is why I say we are to emulate
Christ. To emulate is to imitate. We are to think, speak and act as Jesus
would. That’s why the slogan “What Would
Jesus Do?” (aka, WWJD) is actually quite appropriate. What WOULD Jesus think, say or do in a given
situation? It’s only through diligently
reading God’s Word that we can know Jesus in the truest sense.
What
is truth? God is truth, Jesus is God and also the Word, which was made flesh
and dwelled among men (John 1:14). Jesus
said in John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.” Whatever you think the truth is, you may need to
readjust your thinking. The truth that
brings forgiveness, freedom, fulfillment, peace and hope is in Christ
alone. Until next time, walk with the
King and be a blessing!
