This spring our Sunday school class was studying the Gospel of John. As we read through John 17, which is the record of Jesus' prayer for his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, I felt a prick of hope followed by conviction followed by hope again.
"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." - John 17:17
First, Hope: Jesus is praying that God would sanctify all believers-That he would make them whole and holy. If Jesus is praying, of course His Father will answer! This is a prayer that will happen. We can count on it. My Father will free me from all the sin and brokenness that entangles: selfishness, insecurity, lack of trust, pride, anger, anxiety, worry. And He will make me more like His Son: patient, kind, loving, gentle, faithful, wise.
Then came conviction: When I see sin or brokenness in my life, I tend to give myself a diagnosis: "selfish," and then, forgetting about the words of life and instruction given in God's word, I hunt for some other book that will cure me. I run to man's words and thoughts and solutions. I especially run to counseling books for things I am afraid of or think I will fail at: How to have a great marriage, How to raise children, How to overcome anxiety, how to be a good wife, how to _________.
And then came hope again: The answer to all my how-to questions is within Jesus' prayer: "Sanctify them by the truth, YOUR WORD is TRUTH." God's word is the answer and His word is enough!
All Scripture is God breathed. It is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
God's word is living and active, sharper than any double-edge sword. It lays bear the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
The Word of God will accomplish what the Lord purposes and desires (Isaiah 55:11).
It is able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ (2 Timothy 3:15).
When we do the word, we find liberty (James 1:22-25).
Meditating on God's word makes us like a tree planted by streams of water, whose leaf does not whither, who bears fruit in season (Psalm 1).
The Word of God is enough!
God's word can....
Call me to repentance when I am selfish and point me to the forgiveness and grace available to those who confess their sin (1 John 1:9)
Show me how to grow in Christ by staying connected to the vine (John 15:5)
Teach me to know how to love as Christ loved (John 13:34, John 15:13)
Give me wisdom to raise children by training them up in the ways of the Lord (Prov. 22:6)
Give me faith to believe that my past is not my future and that God's plans are for my good (Romans 8:28-30)
Give peace when anxiety threatens to undo me by teaching me to cast all my anxieties on HIM because HE cares for me (Phil. 4:4-9, 1 Peter 1:7)
Point me to Christ, the author and perfecter of my faith, the one who gives everything I need for life and godliness (Heb. 12:1-2, 2 Peter 1:3)
The Word of God is enough!
Many have found Jesus' words difficult. After one particularly hard teaching many who had once followed Christ began to desert Him. Jesus turned to his disciples and asked, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" My heart answers with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life."
We do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God's mouth (Matthew 4:4)
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