PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 17:13-19
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
God’s word is God’s truth, God’s message to the world.
The bible also points to this truth, but this truth is more than the bible.
God’s truth is best seen in Jesus, the embodied Word of God, God’s message for the world.
How Jesus comes into the world, this is the truth about God.
A God that steps in, a God that loves, a God that suffers for, a God that dies for.
A God that seeks, saves and serves the lost, a God that is compassionate and merciful.
This is how Jesus comes into the world, and this is how Jesus sends us into the world.
“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18)
Our goal is not to escape the world, but to embody the truth of God in the world.
To be set apart (sanctified) FROM selfish living, set apart FOR selfless living.
We are set apart to step in, to love, to suffer for, even to die for.
We are set apart to seek, save and serve the lost, to be compassionate and merciful.
The truth of God is seen in Jesus, the word of God in the world.
The truth of God is seen in us, living with/like/for Jesus in the world.
PRAYER
Lord, help us do more than carry or read our bibles; help us to embody the truth of God as seen in you, to live the word in the world with, like and for you!
Sometimes I think we try to hard to build our own ‘utopias’ – we like to be comfortable. Jesus prayer for his disciples: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one”. Can we be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good? Jesus prays that we may be able to stay and serve – not leave prematurely or escape – but to serve. Jesus prays for our protection from the evil one while we serve. I need to have protection from being too complacent – too casual about those who are the mission field – those who do not know Jesus and know about grace and mercy. Lord help me be earthly good as I serve you – protect me from evil – including complacency! Give me a sense of mission and help me to follow opportunities to make a difference in your name.
Christian.
That’s who I am by name and by my daily living.
Christ in me to share Him to those around me by word and deed.
Jesus followers are not of the world but in the world sharing the love of Christ in us. They can see we are Christians by our love – the fruit of the Spirit.
Lead me and guide me Lord as I continue to serve You living for Jesus. I am a living epistle read by all who see me.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.