“Jude,..
“To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
“Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed.., ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ…
“These people, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones… Woe to them!.. These are… shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees..; wild waves… casting up the foam of their own shame…
“These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
“But you must remember, beloved,.. ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy.” Jude 1-4,8,11-13,16-23
While a calm and joy-filled message about their common salvation had been his desire and intent, the half-brother of Jesus was compelled to make an appeal for discernment and purity in the church. Defiling blemishes and malcontents had infiltrated the nascent fellowships with their poison and threatened to pollute and divide them with ungodliness and false teaching. It was vital for those in Christ to pursue their most holy faith to maintain its integrity and vitality.
Living among the world, we are surrounded by those who know not God and care nothing for holy things or thought. We are bombarded with negativity, sensuality, rebel ideas, divisiveness. Every day, first things first. Remember that we are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept eternally and inextricably for Jesus Christ.
Rather than get swept up in the world’s destructive momentum and down into its wicked perversion, would we liberally ingest God’s mercy, peace, and love? Will we commit to tenacious vigilance to live not as slaves to sin but as His adopted children? We are to behave distinctly from the world, preparing to appear blameless before the Lord in glory with great joy. Regular spiritual assessment and focus rightly aligns priorities. (Romans 6:17-23; 8:5,15-17)
If I treasure a common salvation, how does it spur me on to steadfastness, love, graciousness, good deeds? Where do I tolerate the world’s ideas about morality or money? How do I encourage the unbelieving and weak? First thing, of what ungodliness need I repent, then trust the One who can keep me from falling? What am I doing to remain in Christ’s love, to rescue others from spiritual death, and to fortify my brothers and sisters? (Hebrews 10:23-25; Jude 24-25; Revelation 2:19-21)
Lord, help me faithfully tend to first things first, and to trust and please You as supreme, magnifying Your glory, majesty, and dominion forever.
As the rain and snow 