Session 3

How knowing the truth changes you

From The Way, the Truth, and the Life: A 12-Day Devotional

Have you ever stared at a Magic Eye picture, knowing there is something there, but all you see are blurry lines and colors? Some can see the hidden image right away, while others are left frustrated and confused.

Sometimes, our lives feel like a Magic Eye picture. We can’t make out what is true, and it leaves us feeling frustrated, confused, and not knowing where to turn. 

In John 17:17, Jesus prays, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” This word “sanctify” means to be set apart for the use intended by the designer. We are sanctified when we live according to God’s design and purpose for our lives. 

Jesus asks God to sanctify His people by the truth. The Bible is truth. 

Truth inspires change. The Bible is God’s truth that changes us, and changes others through us.

The Bible helps us discover more about who God is and what He wants for His people. It also helps us see our need to turn away from things that do not match God’s design for our lives. As we confess and turn from sin, we are being sanctified by the truth from our Creator. 

God wants our lives to be full of joy, peace, and freedom. In John 8:32, Jesus tells a group of believers that the truth of God’s Word sets us free. When we apply what we read in the Bible, we are set free from our past and free to live the life He has planned for us. The truth in the Bible sanctifies us, and people around us are changed by the change they see in us!

Reflect:

• What is one way you are being sanctified, set apart or made more like Jesus, as you read the Bible?
• Who do you know that is being changed because of the change they see in you? How?

Do you struggle with knowing what to read in the Bible, or how to understand what you read? We want to help you. Go here to learn more about how to read the Bible and find studies.