Read John 17:15-19
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (v. 17).
Once while working at Mt. Zion Bible School, I was sitting at my desk in the office and thinking about something which was quite troubling to me. It seemed that a dark cloud came to overshadow the day. Then I remembered the promise of some friends — the Harts. They said they would be praying for the school every day about 10:00 a.m. It was near that time when I thought of that promise. It was amazing to me how the load seemed so much lighter at that thought.
Then imagine the thought that God's Son is praying for us. Remember He does not have to pray, as we sometimes do, with the provision “according to your will, Lord.” He knows the will of God. He knows the power of God. He knows the potential of what God will do with the surrendered life. Christ's prayer for His disciples (that includes us) is that they/we be sanctified. It is God's will that His followers be set aside in consecration for His service and glory. It is God's will that His followers be cleansed within, which will result in a life of holiness. His prayer is not just an idealistic concept. It is a present possibility while we still live in a corrupt world. The context of today's verse makes it clear that setting them apart is not taking them out of the world, but rather cleansing their hearts from that which would draw them into the evil of this world. (Lonnie Witt)
Christ did not pray an impossibility!
This devotional is the Monday, July 20, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
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