Jude 24
The book of Jude was written by Jesus’ brother Jude, who was a leader in the early church. This book was written as a warning against false teaching. At this point in history it seems that people were opposing the incarnation of Christ and the call to Christian ethics, so Jude spoke to the importance of the relationship between true doctrine and right conduct. In these short 25 verses, Jude points out that there are ungodly people that have wormed their way into churches and profess that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. He goes on to say that all through out the Bible there are examples of how God dealt with people who chose to not stay faithful to His instruction. In verse 12 he says that these people are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck us, and that they are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. He goes on to say in verse 16 that these people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. Then he tells us in verse 19 that these people are the ones who are creating divisions in the church and that they follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s spirit in them. Then in verse 20 Jude starts his instruction to believers. “You must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.” Jude closes his letter with the blessing, promise and declaration of verses 24 and 25. “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!”
We can see the same type of issues in our society today. We are often challenged in our faith and drawn to take advantage of God’s mercy. Temptation is never far away because there are people everywhere who don’t have the Spirit of God in them. Did you notice the instructions God left us in verse 20 to combat these people and their propositions? Build each other up in our faith, pray for each other and await God’s mercy. These instructions are so practical! Right now, most of us have the gift of time, so we actually can search out ways to build each other up that would be meaningful. We have more time now than ever to spend lifting others to God in prayer. Waiting on God’s return feels more comforting than usual with all that is going on in the world right now.
Look again at verse 24. “All glory to God who is able to keep you from falling away.” How are we so loved and so blessed that God offers to keep us from falling away from Him to false teachers? He loves us so deeply that He protects our hearts and minds when we commit to following Him, and He tells us how we can re-enforce our commitment to Him through building each other up in faith, praying for each other and waiting on Him. The most beautiful gift, to me, is that He promises to bring us with great joy to heaven with Him, without a single fault! I can hardly wrap my head around this promise when I know what is in my heart, and how I behave, and how often I choose other things over God. I don’t deserve the gifts in this promise. I am so far from “without a single fault” and I am powerless to present myself any other way to God. He knew this would be the case for every single one of us. He wanted so much to be with us for eternity because of His huge love for us, that He made a plan that caused Him to pay the price for our sin instead of us having to do it for ourselves. He took the punishment for our wrong, so we could be presented without a single fault. I have known this truth since I was 4 years old, and I still can’t really grasp the full reality of this plan or the completion of it. I don’t know all that God knows and I am not the same kind of love that He is. But I have seen His personal love for me in so many tangible ways, that I know whether I can understand all of it or not, that His plan is real and true. I don’t have words to describe my gratefulness inside. I hope this morning, that each of us takes a few minutes to try to express our awareness and esteem for our loving Father and the good good gifts He provides.