Sanctify by TRUTH
Last week I finished my articles by writing about a Hunger for TRUTH. This week I address these thoughts in a little different way.
I asked if you Hunger for TRUTH and, if you do, to comment on the article and to let me know how you pursue it? I will be very interested to see what responses I might get. Throughout the weekend I heard from no one.
This is an important concept to grasp because it is basic to my topic today. What does it mean to be sanctified? If you look it up, you will find that it means “to be set apart.” Set apart from whom or what?
The most common explanation for this is that we are set apart by God for a special purpose. The key Biblical verse is John 17:17 as part of Jesus’ prayer to God when he says, “Sanctify them by the TRUTH; your word is TRUTH.” In this verse, Jesus communicates two important facts: God’s Word is TRUTH—God’s Word?equals?TRUTH—and it’s by that TRUTH that God?sanctifies ?us or sets us apart for holy service to Himself.
I would venture to guess that most of us do not feel very “set apart” by God for almost anything. We are so caught up in the challenges of our lives and our own perspectives that it is difficult, if not impossible, to look beyond our lives and accept that God has a plan for us. There are notable exceptions, but most of us are just trying to get by.
Stick with me now for I am going to wade a little into the “religious” part of my life, a life you may not follow or believe in but you still see as a possible pathway to TRUTH and to finding your purpose in life.
I have written before about finding our “purpose” (our TRUTH) and various ways in which this might be possible, but it starts with a simple acceptance of what Jesus is saying. Further clarification can be found in verses 7 – 9. “7?Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.?8?For I gave them the words you gave me,?and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you,?and they believed that you sent me.?9?I pray for them.?I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me,?for they are yours.”
We each know, we have an internal knowledge and even an understanding that God, or something or someone, has an intended purpose for our lives. We do not come from nothing. We strive to find our origins and purpose in many ways. Some believe that they know?their purpose and have been able to pursue it with passion. Others still seek it through work, relations, other religions, self-reflection, and even drugs or other vices they believe will help bring enlightenment. We may believe and understand that we have been “set apart,” we just do not know why or to what purpose?
Jesus gives very clear direction here. He says…” God’s Word?equals?TRUTH.” Every morning, I try to start my day seeking TRUTH by asking questions, reading a passage from the Bible, and praying. It is not something that I have always done, but it is one that I am trying very hard to do now. Why? Because it brings me TRUTH. It provides me direction and purpose and understanding.
You do not have to believe in God, or even that Jesus Christ is His Son and was sent to save you from your sins, to seek TRUTH. But it helps! You do not have to seek Jesus to find your purpose, or at least what you believe is your purpose in life, but this Hunger for TRUTH should tell you something about yourself and what you are trying to accomplish in your life.
TRUTH is not a set of facts; it is not something that we do—TRUTH acts upon us. TRUTH changes us as God writes His TRUTH on our hearts (Romans 2:15 ). We need to be walking in the TRUTH, to love TRUTH, and to believe TRUTH (2 Thessalonians 2:10 ). Jesus didn’t say He would show us the TRUTH, tell us the TRUTH, or model the TRUTH; Jesus?is?the TRUTH (John 14:6 ). He personifies TRUTH.?
I know that this is a lot to take in and accept that you may not be ready to do so, but it truly is foundational to pursuing and discerning TRUTH. Reach out to me if you have questions or want to know more about what I believe and why. I would love to talk with you!