ICS Daily Devotions
Be Sanctified by the Truth
When we go through difficulties, it is easy to meditate on the problem rather than focus on the answer found in the Word of God, but God is watching over His Word to perform it. Therefore, what we need is simple faith to act on the Word, and the Bible will become real in our lives.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Jesus is praying for us to be sanctified, which means to be set apart from the world to the Word of God, which is the truth. Other truths in the natural world such as sickness, poverty, fear and recession are only a truth but not the truth, and the truth will always supersede these truths when we apply it. Jesus is praying that we would be separated from the attitudes, dictates and opinions of the world and be joined with His Word—the truth.
When we see the integrity of God’s Word and choose to apply it in our lives, we will see situations and circumstances change, just like Abraham who, contrary to hope, believed God and called those things which did not exist as though they did. Not wavering at the promise of God, he was fully convinced that God would perform what He had promised.
Romans 4:17-21 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Facts including negative circumstances exist. While we don’t deny what’s going on, we deny their rights to have a place in our lives, and we change them by establishing the unchangeable truth of God’s Word in our hearts by meditating and acting on it.
We need to have this attitude towards God’s Word: God said it, I believe it and that settles it. It is His covenant Word with me and to me, and it is regardless of how I feel, how the circumstances are or the opinion of the world.
Whenever we encounter a problem and a negative truth that is set before us, run to God and seek a second opinion from the truth. God’s Word is forever settled in heaven, but it is up to us to settle it forever in our lives and to give it first place and authority in everything we do.
Sermon Series: Fight the Good Fight of Faith
