We Are Not of This World
Scripture: John 17:16-19 (NIV) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Devotion: These verses come from one of the most intimate moments in Scripture: Jesus praying for His disciples the night before His crucifixion . He is not teaching here; He is interceding. He is not giving instructions; He is revealing His heart. And what He asks for shows us what He treasures most for His people. Jesus begins by affirming a profound identity: “They are not of the world.” This is not a call to isolation but a reminder of belonging. The disciples — and all who follow Christ — derive their identity from Him, not from the world’s shifting values. Their purpose, hope, and future are rooted in the kingdom of God . Yet Jesus does not ask the Father to remove them from the world. Instead, He sends them ...