In times like this where we are all facing challenges we are reminded by Jude “…you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be MOCKERS in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who CAUSE DIVISIONS, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, BUILDING YOURSELVES UP on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 1:17-21) Important documents are often kept in a safety deposit box. We like to keep valuables in a safe place. Where can we keep OURSELVES SAFE? IN GOD’S LOVE! “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” (Jude 1:21) The word ‘keep’ here means ‘PRESERVE’, ‘keep in safety and PROTECT FROM HARM, decay, loss or destruction’.
Paul wrote, “…the Lord will DELIVER ME from every evil work and PRESERVE ME for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Tim. 4:18) Jude uses the same word in verse 1: “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and PRESERVED in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1). As Christian’s we are PRESERVED (protected) in Jesus Christ our Lord. David prayed it like this, “PRESERVE ME, O God, for in You I put my trust.” (Psa. 16:1)
Nothing external can separate us from the love of God: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38, 39) Jesus gave a similar command: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; ABIDE IN (to accept without objection) MY LOVE. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:9, 10). Thus we must keep the commandments of Jesus to abide in His love.
To ABIDE in Christ’s love we must abide in His word: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you ABIDE IN MY WORD, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31, 32). We are free in Christ and BUILT UP in Christ: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO WALK IN HIM, ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6, 7).
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham