December 2025

The Truth of the Season

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

John 17:17 (NLT) “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Truth is not merely an idea or moral value. According to Jesus, Truth is something that sets us apart, shapes us, and makes us whole. In John 17, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to God the Father for His disciples and for all who would one day believe in Him. His request was simple, yet profound: “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Jesus didn’t simply identify Truth; He was the Truth. Earlier, in John 14:6, He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (NLT). Truth had a face, a voice, a heartbeat. Truth walked among us. Truth healed the sick, calmed storms, lifted the broken, and forgave sinners. Truth was born in Bethlehem to fulfill God’s eternal plan of redemption. He entered our world to bring peace where there was chaos, joy where there was sorrow, and salvation for all who would accept Him.

It is easy to get caught up in the lights, gifts, gatherings, and beautiful things that come with the Christmas season. These things bring lots of fun and joy for us all to enjoy. However, they are shallow and incomplete and bring only temporary satisfaction without a relationship with Jesus. If we’re not careful, we may celebrate the season while missing the real reason for the season. Long before Jesus prayed the prayer in John Chapter 17, before His public ministry, before the miracles and teachings, He entered the world as a baby, beginning a journey that will lead to the cross and to the offering of salvation to all who choose to receive it. When Jesus prayed, “Make them holy by your truth,” He was asking God the Father to transform our lives through the Truth He Himself brought into the world.

The Truth that makes us holy sets us apart for God’s purposes. The Truth equips us. It protects us from deception, sharpens our understanding, and anchors our identity. When Jesus prayed for us in John 17, His desire was not that we simply believe the Truth but that we are changed by it. This is why Christmas is more than a story. If Jesus is the Truth, then knowing Him is the path to becoming the person we were created to be. The baby in the manger is not just someone to admire; He is someone to follow, trust, and obey. His Truth challenges our false securities, realigns our priorities, and provides wisdom as we navigate life’s challenges.

W. Tozer once wrote, “Truth has no substitute; it cannot be exchanged for anything but a lie.” This is a powerful quote. When we allow the Truth, Jesus Himself, to shape our lives, it transforms us from the inside out. It challenges our old patterns, confronts our selfish desires, and molds us into people who reflect His character. Applying Truth to your life through a relationship with Jesus is not passive. Rather, it is a lifelong journey of becoming more like the One who came to save us.

Challenge: As you celebrate the birth of Jesus and enjoy all the fun of the Christmas season, ask yourself, Am I letting the Truth make me holy? Am I embracing Jesus not just as the center of Christmas, but as the center of my life?

Published: December 1, 2025

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