“Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17).

The night before the Lord Jesus went to the cross He prayed His great prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. With every group that I took to Israel, I honestly never got over the massive emotions of being in that Garden. Sometimes I would have a few people in our group that I didn’t know very well. Most of my groups were members of the church I pastored, so I knew them pretty well. I knew their struggles, fears, doubts, weaknesses, and struggles. Pastors know their people somewhat. The Lord Jesus knows His people thoroughly, entirely. The words of our Savior as He prayed that night, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth,” rang in my mind every time I took a group there. The word “sanctify” has the idea of “setting apart, separate from profane things and dedicated to God.” Notice that this takes place through the operation of the Word. That’s why it is so important for you and me to be in the Word today.

For today: May the reading of Your Word, dear Lord, cause us to become closer to You and purer in our walk.