ESOCS Devotional 1 August 2026 – Sanctified By The Word
MEMORY VERSE: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17
TEXT: JOHN 17:12-18
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 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. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
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To sanctify means to set apart as, or declare holy. This is the prayer of Jesus Christ for all believers. God is to set us apart as holy people different in all ramifications from unbelievers. Those who desire it should endeavour that they accept and live by what the Bible teaches. This is how Jesus could keep His disciples. In verses 12 and 14 of our text, Jesus gave report of how that He was able to gather the disciples through the name and word of God. They believed in God and received the word of God (John 1:12).
Remaining in Christ and to truly be set apart is a function of one’s decision. You have to decide to follow the word of God and reject worldly pleasures and all appearances of evil. Among all the disciples of Jesus Christ it was only one of them “the son of perdition.” (John 17:13) Judas who lost out because he allowed the devil and its worldly desires take priority over the teachings of the Lord. If we must remain sanctified to the end we must endure and resist all persuasions to do evil.
The benefits are plenty. Those who are sanctified have the power and spirit of God in them who keep them protected from all hatred and evil of the world. The world here means the organized system of men and evil formed against the purpose of God on earth. No power formed against us shall prosper. God makes our table of honour in the presence of our enemies and they can do nothing about it.
So it will help us more, if we assure and take up the mandate of Jesus Christ in service and in worship of God. In verse 18 Jesus said “As thou hast sent me into the world even so have I sent them in to the world.”
In conclusion, let us know that we, are set apart in character, learning, blessedness, victory and in service. The power that holds us in all these is the omnipotent power of God that prevails in all circumstances.
Question
Have you been enabled to speak, act and live in holiness?
Prayer
Father purify my heart and enable my life with the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Further Reading:
Ezekiel 28:1-10, Dan. 4:1-23, Titus 3:1-end
ESOCS Devotional 1 August 2026
