Daily Devotional

Scripture: And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:19)

Consecrate and sanctify here are actually the same word with the same meaning. As in v. 17, Jesus is talking about being set apart for service to God. Jesus tells us here that his adoption of this role—suffering servant and sacrificial lamb—is for our sake. In setting himself apart for service to God in this unique way, his prayer is that we, too, will be set apart for service to God, and that we will do so according to the truth about who God is, what he has done, and what he desires of his creation. We’re meant to be distinguished and distinguishable from the world around us, just as Jesus was.

Prayer: Father, we know we’re called to live a life that is like the life of Jesus. We know that we are set apart from the rest of the world for holy service to the kingdom of God. we pray that you would conform our hearts to Christ’s so that we could honor you with our lives the way he did. Help us to remember today that we are called to a holy calling and that we are everyday missionaries, ambassadors for the kingdom. Amen.