In John 17:17 Jesus prays a simple, straightforward petition. Jesus said, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
This has been one of my favorite Bible verses since the time I got saved at the age of 16. I love the word of God.
But I confess there were years when I didn’t give the word of God its rightful place in my life.
I’m so glad we can count on God’s word for the truth. There’s less and less in our world today that is truthful. We need truth we can depend on.
We know God’s word to be true. But it’s not just a collection of facts and stories. It’s much more than just the “Good Book.”
The Word of God has a sanctifying effect on us. To be sanctified means to be set apart for a specific purpose.
When we read God’s word, the Holy Spirit teaches us and sets us apart from the world.
Positionally every believer is sanctified or set apart in Christ. That’s our standing before God. That can’t be improved upon.
But we all could improve our practical sanctification. In other words, in our daily lives we don’t always live like we’re set apart for God. We don’t always live up to the high position or the high calling we have in Christ.
But God’s word tells us what to think and what to do to walk with the Lord. It shapes our attitudes and our actions toward others. God’s word helps us be more like Christ. God’s word helps us become set apart or sanctified in our everyday lives.
The writer of Psalm 119 lifts up the word of God and intersperses prayers throughout this magnificent psalm. I’ve cherry picked a few verses that speak of the character of God’s holy word and the people who keep it.
Verse 2–Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Verse50–This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Verse 104–Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Verse 130–The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Verse 142–Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Let’s recall the description of God’s word in Hebrews 4:12.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Now let’s remember what Paul said about God’s word in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
If you want sound guidance for your life, read God’s word.
If you want better relationships with others, read God’s word.
If you want to hear more from the Holy Spirit, read God’s word.
If you want a better prayer life, read God’s word.
In case you don’t know how you’ll fit the reading of God’s word into your schedule, let me propose a novel idea. I encourage you to follow the example of our two cats.
Before you think I’ve lost my marbles, consider this.
I pour food into the dish for our cats every morning. They eat whenever they’re hungry. They eat a little at a time throughout the day and night.
Why can’t we do a similar thing with God’s word. Don’t wait for church or Sunday school to partake of God’s word.
Take some whenever you’re hungry for it. And if you’re not hungry for it, start reading it and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
You’ll get hungry for more of the word. Soon enough you’ll figure out how and when to take in more of the Scriptures.
Let’s be self feeders on the word of God so we can be the men and women God wants us to be. Let’s allow the Lord to sanctify us through the truth.