“Our Daily Bread”   http://odb.org/2012/06/25/pureed-pursuit/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

John 17:15-17… I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.  (NKJV)

The opening scripture has Jesus praying to His Father in heaven for His disciples who He knows are about to go through a very rough time… This is just before Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, as written about by John, in…John 18:3… Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.  (NKJV)

All Christian’s are called out of this world, and set apart as a child of God for God’s purposes… The definition of “Sanctify” from the opening scripture, from www.thefreedictionary.com, means… “1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate. 2. To make holy; purify.”

The apostle Paul writes this, in…2 Thessalonians 2:13…  But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,  (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth”…  I wrote about this a couple of days ago; and here is the link for those who want to read this days writing… https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/gods-group-thoughts-for-6232012-free-at-last/

The opening scripture reveals that God’s Word is truth… Christians are called to obey this truth found in God’s Word, and it is the same truth the Holy Spirit uses to try and direct our lives… The apostle Peter writes this about God’s Word and the truth given to Christian’s through the Holy Spirit, in…

1 Peter 22-23… Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,  (NKJV)

This process of sanctification is a lifelong journey…  Sure Christians will fall once in a while, but we are to pray a prayer along the lines of…1 John 1:9…and get back on the horse, so to speak… Our lives should be a steady progression of becoming more “Christ like” as time goes by; until we are called home to be with the Lord…  Christians are called to love the Lord with all of our heart, our mind, and our soul (Matthew 22:36-40)… We are also called to love all of those around us, even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44)…

This purification process of sanctification can only occur if Christians learn to listen to the Holy Spirit living with-in them…  I was listening to Charles Stanley on the way to church Sunday… His radio broadcast was titled… “Listen to God – Walking with God:” Part 1  …Here is the link to this 24 minute sermon…

I was touched by this in so many ways… I can only pray that each and every one of you take a little time and listen to these words of instruction by a wise man of God…

Heavenly Father, please help those of us who You have called as Christian’s and Your children, to set our lives apart from the world of sin; and to do all we can to live as pure a life as possible…  Help all of Your children Lord…each in their area of needs…to become the Spirit filled children that will make You proud…  Help us Lord, to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit with-in us…  Help us to understand that His way and Your way are one in the same; and that our obedience will lead to walking with You as a Spirit filled Christian… I pray for this spiritual state of utmost joy and peace for all of Your children…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills