November 29 — "Not Of This World"

Today's Reading: John 17

John 17 is holy ground, perhaps the holiest in all of Scripture. Here we overhear the solemn moment when the Son speaks to the Father with unfiltered love, longing, and clarity. It’s the night before the cross, and instead of turning inward, Jesus turns outward—first praying for His own glorification, then for His disciples, and finally for all who would one day believe (yes, that includes you and me). Ever wonder what Jesus prays for you when you’re not listening? This is it. Not a distant, packaged prayer, but the Savior’s heart poured out in real time—interceding with tenderness, precision, and breathtaking intimacy.

By verses 16–17, the prayer sharpens to a razor’s edge. Jesus declares of His people: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” That’s not a motivational slogan—it’s a spiritual reclassification. Jesus draws a line in the sand and places you firmly on His side of that line. You’re not defined by culture, pressure, or labels stamped on you by others. You’re defined by Him. You belong to another kingdom. Jesus says it plainly: you share His heavenly citizenship, His otherworldly origin, His spiritual DNA. Comforting? Absolutely. Disorienting? You bet. It means you’ll never fully “fit” here—and that’s intentional.

But Jesus doesn’t stop at identity; He moves to formation. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” Translation? “Father, shape them, set them apart, remake them from the inside out—not by guilt, not by rules, not by pressure, but by your truth.” To be sure, the Word of God has the power to do just that! Sanctification isn’t a polishing job on your old life; it’s a total re-creation through immersion in the Word. The Greek word for “sanctify” means to set apart for sacred use. Jesus is asking the Father to continually carve your life into a vessel that reflects Him—where His truth guides your choices, His love fuels your actions, and His character shows up in the way you think, speak, and live.

And notice the tool God uses: truth. Not the pseudo-truth of trends, not the “truth” of self-expression, not the emotional hype of viral influencers—but the truth that flows from the very breath of God. The Bible doesn’t just inform you; it transforms you. It’s the chisel in the Father’s hand, shaping you into someone who looks less like the world and more like the One who prayed this prayer.

So may the Lord anchor your identity in Christ, saturate your heart with His truth, and shape your life into something unmistakably His. Walk in the freedom of one who is not of this world—but sent into it with purpose, joy, and a grin that says, “I know whose side I’m on.”