Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Priesthood of All Believers
John 17:9-20

Daniel Thomas

Orlando MTC
18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth..
When Jesus prayed that believers would be sanctified, He was praying to His Father that they - each one of us as well - would be set apart and made righteous by the Word of God (vv. 17, 19).  In one sense that has already happened:  believers are made righteous the moment they accept Christ as their Savior.  In another sense, however, the believers enter into a process of sanctification :  growing in obedience and holiness moment by moment.
Peter writes to the believers scattered throughout the regions of Asia Minor, now Turkey, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).  Paul said that we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ's victory over sin (2 Cor. 2:15).  God has given us the fragrance of Christ Himself in order for us to  become a sweet-smelling sacrifice of praise.  How can we live to spread this pleasing fragrance to others?  We can do this by love, care and concern, and also by sharing the Gospel with others so they can find the way to salvation.

Jesus was leaving the world and returning to heaven and the Father (John 17:11).  Therefore, the whole mission of preaching the good news to the world rest upon the shoulders of His disciples - you and I.  We are the ones who are to go out into the world as His ambassadors to reconcile and proclaim His Word.  As the believers go, they needed to be strengthened and equipped by God to stand against the terrible forces in the world.  His followers were the ones who needed special prayer (vv. 9-11).   His whole mission of the world for God depended upon their endurance and faithfulness.  In those last hours before He returned to the Father, He had to pray for them with power and intensity, asking great things of God.Jesus gave each believer the Great Commission, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20).

PRAYER

Loving and Gracious Father, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit to become Your ambassadors of reconciliation and proclamation of Your good news to the world so that they may make Your will their choice.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"Do thy duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest."  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

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