Basic HTML Version
Sanctified Through the Word, April 18
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:17
.
The burden of Jesus’ request was that those who believed on Him might
be kept from the evil of the world, and sanctified through the truth. He does
not leave us to vague surmising as to what the truth is, but adds, “Thy word
is truth.” The Word of God is the means by which our sanctification is to
be accomplished. It is of the greatest importance, then, that we acquaint
ourselves with the sacred instruction of the Bible. It is as necessary for us to
understand the words of life as it was for the early disciples to be informed
concerning the plan of salvation.
We shall be inexcusable if, through our own negligence, we are ignorant
of the claims of God’s Word. God has given us His Word, the revelation of
His will, and has promised the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, to guide
them into all truth; and every soul who honestly desires to do the will of God
shall know of the doctrine.
The world is full of false teaching; and if we do not resolutely search the
Scriptures for ourselves, we shall accept its errors for truth, adopt its customs,
and deceive our own hearts. The doctrines and customs of the world are at
variance with the truth of God. Those who seek to turn from the service of the
world to the service of God will need divine help. They will have to set their
faces like a flint toward Zion. They will feel the opposition of the world, the
flesh, and the devil, and will have to go contrary to the spirit and influences
of the world.
Since the time when the Son of God breasted the haughty prejudices and
unbelief of mankind, there has been no change in the attitude of the world
toward the religion of Jesus. The servants of Christ must meet the same
spirit of opposition and reproach, and must go “without the camp, bearing his
reproach” (
Hebrews 13:13
).
The mission of Jesus was demonstrated by convincing miracles. His
doctrine astonished the people. It was not the contradictory jargon of the
scribes, full of mysticism, burdened with absurd forms and meaningless
exactions; but it was a system of truth that met the wants of the heart. His
teaching was plain, clear, and comprehensive. The practical truths He uttered
had a convincing power, and arrested the attention of the people.—
The Review
and Herald, February 7, 1888
.
[118]
119