We Are Not of This World

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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 into it. The Christian life is not about escape but mission. We are called to live faithfully in the very places where darkness still lingers, bringing the light of Christ into ordinary relationships, workplaces, communities, and conversations.

But Jesus knows this mission requires more than courage. It requires holiness — a life shaped by God’s truth. So, He prays, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Sanctification is not merely moral improvement; it is being set apart for God’s purposes. It is the Spirit’s slow, steady work of aligning our hearts with God’s heart, our desires with His desires, and our lives with His Word.

Then Jesus says something astonishing: “For their sake I consecrate myself.” He is speaking of the cross. Jesus sets Himself apart — fully and willingly — to accomplish the work of redemption so that His people can be set apart for God. Our sanctification is rooted in His sacrifice. Our holiness flows from His obedience. Our mission is possible because He first gave Himself for us.

In these verses, Jesus unites identity, mission, and holiness. We are not of the world — that is our identity. We are sent into the world — that is our calling. We are sanctified by the truth — that is our formation. And all of it rests on the finished work of Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for us, for sending us, and for sanctifying us through Your Word and Your sacrifice. Keep us faithful in the world without being shaped by it. Make us holy, not by our strength but by Your truth. And send us with courage, humility, and love to the places where You have called us to serve. Amen.

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