Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Jesus prayed a prayer to His Father for us all: "Sanctify them by Your truth: Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
What does "sanctify" mean? We all can agree that there is a difference between the character and the personality of someone who is "sanctified" and someone who is not. We want to live in Christian harmony: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren [and sisters] to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). Day after day it's a joy to live. It was possible to live like that as far back in history as King David's time. It would be heaven on earth to live that way today!
We of all kindreds, tongues, and people can agree that a "sanctified" person will be what 1 Corinthians 13 describes: He or she suffers long, is kind, doesn't envy, doesn't parade himself or herself, isn't puffed up, doesn't behave rudely, isn't provoked [easily, KJV], thinks no evil (that is, doesn't impute evil motives), bears all things patiently, doesn't rejoice when someone falls, believes and hopes all good things, and endures all bad things, and never breaks down the endurance of being crucified daily (Luke 9:23). This is being "sanctified"!
All this, but not being a coward or a "doormat"; Jesus confronted some people very directly, even sharply, but always His was a Christlike spirit. Oh, He could stand firm for what He knew is right (read Matt. 23:23-39)! No Christlike, sanctified person can be a coward!
Father! Please listen to Jesus' prayer in our behalf--"sanctify [us]"!
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 29, 2007.
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