The Truth
Scripture: John 17:13-19 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. (John 17:13-19 NLT)
Jesus is praying to his Father for his disciples. The time has come to entrust them to the Father, the Spirit, and the Word of Truth he has taught and lived before them. Jesus prays, “I have given them your word…Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” What Jesus entrusted to his followers is Truth!
Dear friends, if we don’t cling to the Truth, we have lost our message! Many of you are reading these words in the USA as we prepare to move into a year of national election campaigning, leading up to local, national, and presidential elections in November 2024. We’re facing a year of news broadcasts, social media, and internet news full of electioneering, probability polls, charges, and counter-charges about candidates and issues. Front yards and fences will fill with posters telling us whom to vote for and warning of the consequences if the “Other Guys” win. It’s divisive, it’s brutal, and it’s hard for our Truth-loving hearts to hear and see!
Jesus said, “They do not belong to this world, any more than I do! I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” The evil one wants us to think that winning at any cost is more important than our love of the Truth! Please don’t fall into the slime pit of slander, lies, and false accusations. Please don’t post or pass on fear-mongering, falsely accusing, or slanderous social media posts. Please don’t pass on anything that you haven’t carefully fact-checked!
Jesus prayed, “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” If we lose the love of the Truth, we’ve lost our message and compromised our God-assigned purpose in this world!
Prayer:
Father, Please keep us safe from the evil one and keep us strong in our love for the Truth! May we choose faith over fear, love over hate, and truth over lies. Amen.