January 21st, 2022 – Sanctified and Then Sent
Experiencing God Devotional
John 17:17-18 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
God will always sanctify you before He sends you. The Father set aside the twelve disciples and made them holy by the Truth, His Son. As they related to Jesus, the Truth (John 14:6), the disciples were refined by that Truth and were prepared to be sent out to preach the gospel. Jesus challenged their ambitions (Luke 9:46–48), chastised their lack of faith (Matt. 17:19–20), refuted Satan’s influence (Matt. 16:23), and denounced their pride (Matt. 26:33–35). When Jesus had finished preparing them, the disciples were sent out in such power that their world was never the same again.
Satan will try to convince you that your sin renders you useless to God. That is a lie from the author and father of lies. As soon as you sin, the Deceiver will whisper, “You failure! You are now of no use to God.” This can bring a deep sense of defeat and hopelessness to a Christian. Yet, there is no freedom that compares to a soul set free by God’s grace. When God’s people allow God’s truth to realign them to God’s will and God’s standard, then the power of God will be released through them the same way it was through the first disciples.
The Truth will set you free. The Truth is: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9), and we are restored to usefulness to God.
Blackaby, Richard. Experiencing God Day By Day (p. 22). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Pastor’s Thoughts
I taught the church’s youth last night. And one of the things that I said to them was that God does not make trash. Our sin is what makes us feel like trash. The wonderful thing is that Jesus will turn trash back into beauty if we will let Him.
No one is too far gone from the Lord Jesus Christ. You may have been doing this or that which God certainly is not pleased with, but that does not mean that He is done with you. Those are lies that come straight from Satan himself.
God will use your scars from your past decisions for His glory if you let Him.
The choice is yours. Will you continue to buy into Satan’s lies about you being trash? Or are you going to choose to believe God’s Word that says that you are His prized possession?
Choose wisely.
Have a blessed Friday everyone!
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