SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/19/2017
6:20 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-1 “The Request for Sanctifying
Purity”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: John
17:17-19
Message of the
verses: “17 "Sanctify them in
the truth; Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have
sent them into the world. 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they
themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”
The word “sanctify” means to set apart, set apart to
God. In this case Jesus is asking the
Father to sanctify and purify the disciples as they prepared to preach the
truth of the gospel to the world.
MacArthur sates that “it is not enough that they be safeguarded from
outside evils. They must also be
internally conformed more and more to the Son.”
We know that the Lord stated that they had already been cleansed which
refers to their salvation as seen in John 15:3, but they, as all believers need
to have their feet washed, that is in a spiritual way as they walk in the
world. We know that our adversary walks
around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and so it is important
for all believers to have in place their spiritual armor as Paul spoke of in
Ephesians six. The disciples would
surely need this as they prepare to turn the world upside-down. Jesus says that the Father will sanctify them
through the Word, for His Word is truth, and not only that but they will also
be empowered by the Holy Spirit as seen in John 14:17; 15:26; and 16:13. One more thing that will aid them as they go
out and preach the Word is seen in the example of this prayer by our Lord as it
is called “The High Priestly Prayer” which is a preview of the Lord Jesus
Christ’s ministry that He has after His ascension into heaven, and serves as
our High Priest. The book of Hebrews
speaks volumes about this.
When Jesus asks the Father to “sanctify them in the truth”
He is asking Him to set them apart from sin. MacArthur writes “The instrument of
sanctification is God’s revealed, inscipturated word, contained in the Old and
New Testaments, the totality of which is truth.
God’s Word and truth are synonymous.
‘Thine own word is truth’
certifies the inerrancy and infallibility of the Word excepting no portion of
it. The holy garment of the Word is
seamless; it has no rents or error—or call them mistakes—which hands today must
sew up. ‘Thine own word’ signifies all
of it, the Word of the Old Testament and on which Jesus placed His approval again
and again, plus the revelation that Jesus added in person with the promise of
its perfect perseveration through the Paraclete [Holy Spirit] (14:26; 16:13).
(R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of
St. John’s Gospel).”
As we look through the gospels of Jesus Christ we see
that He put a premium on the written Word of God, for after all the Old
Testament spoke of Him. He also viewed
His own words as words from God. “So
Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent
Me (John 17:16).” “26 “I have many
things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and
the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world." 27 They
did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son
of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative,
but I speak these things as the Father taught Me (John 8:26-28).” “38 "I
speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the
things which you heard from your father’ (John 8:38).” “"For I did not
speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a
commandment as to what to say and what to speak (John 12:49).” “10 “Do you not believe that I am in the
Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on
My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works (John 14:10).” “"He
who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not
Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me (John 14:24).”
I would like to say in conclusion that I do not know
where I would be without the Word of God for as the Psalmist it is my food that
I spiritual take in to nourish my soul, and just like eating physical food each
day I need to feast on the Word of God each day to satisfy my soul.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I am thankful for
God setting me apart to Himself as He used His Word to draw me to Himself
setting me apart to do His will.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord to show me His will and to faithfully
do it.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Nathanael” (John 1:49).
Today’s Bible
question: “Who said “"Do you
understand what you are reading?"”
Answer in our next SD.
3/19/2017 6:57 AM
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