The Lord can keep you from stumbling
The Book of Jude doesn't generally get a lot of attention, but there are a few verses that stood out to me today.
Jude 20–25 (ESV)
Jude writes about the dangers of false teachers. As he ends his short letter, he encourages us to keep yourselves in the love of God. We do this by
These are things that we are responsible to do so that we stay in the sweet spot of the love of God. It's the same thing that our Lord said in John 15.
That's not a threat -- "If you don't behave, we won't love you!" God's love for us is unconditional. But we won't enjoy that love if we live in disobedience. And we're not left to our own resources when it comes to staying in the sweet spot of God's love. We build ourselves up in our faith, reading God's Word and rehearsing what God has done for us in Christ. And we pray in the Spirit, which means with His guidance and with His power.
In that power and awareness of God's mercy, we show mercy to those who are struggling, careful not to get drawn into their sin, but helping them into the mercy of God.
Because of the resources that God provides so that we can walk with Him, Jude closes his letter with a benediction of great encouragement. We are surrounded by messages that tell us of how often we will fail God, of how weak and tainted we are. But Jude reminds us that God is able to keep you from stumbling. God is at work in us "to will and to do His good pleasure." We are not hopelessly bound to fall into sin. God is able to keep us, so that He can bring us into the presence of His glory with great joy.
So be hopeful. Rather than preparing ourselves to disappoint our Lord, let's draw on His resources and believe Him -- that He is able to keep us from stumbling.
Jude 20–25 (ESV)
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude writes about the dangers of false teachers. As he ends his short letter, he encourages us to keep yourselves in the love of God. We do this by
- building ourselves up in our faith
- praying with the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, and
- waiting for our Lord's coming, His act of mercy that transports us into eternal life
These are things that we are responsible to do so that we stay in the sweet spot of the love of God. It's the same thing that our Lord said in John 15.
10 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.
That's not a threat -- "If you don't behave, we won't love you!" God's love for us is unconditional. But we won't enjoy that love if we live in disobedience. And we're not left to our own resources when it comes to staying in the sweet spot of God's love. We build ourselves up in our faith, reading God's Word and rehearsing what God has done for us in Christ. And we pray in the Spirit, which means with His guidance and with His power.
In that power and awareness of God's mercy, we show mercy to those who are struggling, careful not to get drawn into their sin, but helping them into the mercy of God.
Because of the resources that God provides so that we can walk with Him, Jude closes his letter with a benediction of great encouragement. We are surrounded by messages that tell us of how often we will fail God, of how weak and tainted we are. But Jude reminds us that God is able to keep you from stumbling. God is at work in us "to will and to do His good pleasure." We are not hopelessly bound to fall into sin. God is able to keep us, so that He can bring us into the presence of His glory with great joy.
So be hopeful. Rather than preparing ourselves to disappoint our Lord, let's draw on His resources and believe Him -- that He is able to keep us from stumbling.
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