Have mercy whilst saving others

Following on from the instructions of how to live; to build your faith, pray in the Spirit and keep in God’s love, Jude now tells us what we should do about these erroneous teachers and those swayed by them;

 *22*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. 

Jude 22–23.

Do you notice that Jude, surprisingly, does not tell us to kick those living an unclean life out of the community of believers? Neither does he advise us to ignore them, or tell them off. Instead Jude tells us to, ‘have mercy’. It is so easy to judge or berate people when they get it wrong, yet Jude, as Jesus would, instructs us to have mercy. Even though they have got it wrong and are enticing others to do the same and it may seem right to punish them or berate them, the instruction here, is to have compassion and show forgiveness. Isn't that quite radical? Jude is quite clear, as he twice repeats the need for mercy. Payback, punishment or a good tongue-lashing are not the answer to help these people. Instead we should have compassion on them - why? For one thing, the reality is that each one of us are susceptible to sin. It could be any one of us that goes astray. Plus, we have all already been shown significant grace and mercy by God. Isn't it then our duty to extend that to others? 

Jesus instructs his followers, "in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12). Or, as we often say at home, treat others as you would like to be treated. So, think about it, how would you like to be led back to Jesus if you go off path? Would a good telling off do it or a punishment turn you back? Or would a merciful chat, guidance and demonstrations of love help you more? 

As you seek to restore those that have wandered away from God's best for their lives; Be warned; it isn't easy. Jude says, ‘Save others by snatching them out of the fire, to others show mercy with fear’. This verse shows the danger, 'snatching', fear'. It could be scary for you. You will be putting yourself in a dangerous situation where the enemy is at work, you are seeking to save those blinded by satan and you could be harmed too. So be aware and be careful. Jude purposefully put his instructions for how you should live your life before how to help those in error - your connection and dependence on God will be essential for you to come through this yourself. That is why you need to continue to; build your faith, pray in the Spirit and keep in God’s love, You must have that as an embedded part of yourself and your faith before you can attempt to help others out of the fire. 

It is also good to be aware of your own responses and temptations. If others are being led astray by things that you have been caught up with before, are you now in a condition to help or will it still be a temptation for you? You need to continue to build your faith remember, so do not get involved in things that may cause it to topple - satan would like nothing more! 

The first way to help those that are going awry, is to have mercy on those that are doubting. Don't tell them off, or spout of loads of verses, but listen with compassion, and then ask them what they thing the Bible says about it - get their view and then encourage them as to the truth. This situation is a need for discipleship and encouragement and hopefully they will follow. The next set Jude refers to are those that you can 'snatch' out of the fire. The warning here for you is not to get too close - getting too near fire burns, and can cause you damage.So, be quick, don't spend lengths of time in that environment, but remember it's a smash n grab situation. Get in, get out. You may need to repeat this, but don't spend too long otherwise the fire of sin will hurt you. ' to others show mercy with fear,' there are other situations that can't just harm you, but can also cause you to become embroiled in things that you really don't want to be. Getting close to those that sin can cause you to be tempted into it yourself, or in some way, to be lead to think,'oh, i'll just do this, this isn't so bad', and then a spiral can form in your own life. That is why, when seeking to help those out of their messes you too need to be concerned for yourself. It is a dangerous place to be, and the enemy is sneaky and inviting, so keep the fear of losing what you have. This doesn't mean that you should avoid trying to rescue people, but you do need to prioritise looking after yourself. I have seen people really come very close to those who are stuck and wandering off, seeming to be at their beck and call, but here Jude is telling us that it is a snatch n grab job. It is not an intense, sit in and smoulder situation - you will get damaged if you do that, even though you are trying to do something good. Remember your priorities;  build your faith, pray in the Spirit and keep in God’s love. This comes first. If you are finding that you do not have time for these things, or that you cannot be as bothered to do them when you are trying to help others, then return to building up yourself first, because you cannot be much help to yourself or others otherwise. 

The positive things that i see about these instructions are that;

1) God wants to protect us

2) God has mercy on everyone

3) We are able to help those that others may consider a lost cause by showing mercy

How incredible, that once we have developed strength and faith in ourselves, we can be invited into helping others who have gone off piste, and return them to relationship with God. 

So, based on these thoughts today, what is it you need to do or change?

keep yourself in God's love

 God is kind. He has warned us that such things as Jude writes about will happen. God allows us to know that there will be people that try to take His ‘beloved’ ones off task. That there will be false teaching and people professing that they are believers leading ungodly lives stuck in sin. God shows us this in different books of the Bible, through different people because He wants us to be aware. Not scared, but prepared, and ready for what is going to happen. God is kindly preparing us and showing us how to live, and He uses authors such as Jude to explain these things to us. 

Jude tells us that this we will see these people living irreverently as the ‘last time’ approaches. A reminder that the world we live in will not last forever. Jude is reminding us that the world is finite, not to cause you to be afraid, but so you can get prepared for not just living in this world, but so that you're ready to live for eternity. He has already mentioned the destination of those who lead others astray by their teaching and untamed sin- where do you want to end up? This is an opportunity for you to assess your life and refine your behaviours and beliefs as necessary. We all make mistakes and can fall into believing things that are not true, being swayed by tempting talk and inviting actions. Today is a chance to put some things right as Jude has shown what the consequences of living a false life of faith are. Therefore be aware of how things can creep in and distance you from God. Be on guard for what is un/helpful in your life and use today to make a change.

*17*But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. *18*They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” *19*It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. *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. 

Jude 17–21.

Again, Jude reminds his readers how important and how loved they are as he reminds them that they are, ‘beloved’. He repeats this because he wants them to recognise that they are dear to him, this is why he is instructing, guiding and warning them in the way he is. The contents of this letter would seem pretty scary if it wasn’t enwrapped with love. It is from this affection that Jude is asking the readers to remember their faith, remember the past, remember the prophecies. So that they can all come into right alignment with God's will. So that their eternal destination and treatment by God is what they wish for and expect. In order to help them live a life of faith and help them avoid the inviting instructions of those that have led people of faith astray, Jude here gives three instructions to keep them, and us, on the right path as believers in Jesus;

I) ‘building yourselves up in your most holy faith’

In this world where we lean on the understanding of others and seek the opinions and expertise of one another, here, Jude is telling us to figure it out ourselves. You are responsible for how you learn and grow in faith, not anyone else. Jude tells you and I to build ourselves up. It is not the job of a leader, pastor, speaker or writer, but you yourself are responsible for the faith you have. Therefore make an effort to learn about it; read, pray, interrogate the scriptures, discuss with others, listen - know what the Bible says, and what it doesn’t. Don't just trust others and their understanding, but figure things out for yourself. Research, ask, and consider what this faith in God, through Jesus and with the Holy Spirit is about. Through that you will gain a better understanding of who God is and will gain confidence in what you believe. Jesus did. So that when he faced temptation in the wilderness he was well equipped to face it and succeed. You too will face temptation, are you well equipped for when it comes? Have you built up your confidence in God and understood how He wishes you to live?  You are responsible for building your faith. How are you doing that?

2) ‘praying in the Holy Spirit’

Praying in the Spirit bypasses the brain, we may start off with an idea of what we want to pray for but then get carried to pray for something else, or end up praying in tongues. Both are guided by the Spirit. Prating in the Spirit and having the gift of speaking in tongues is a great thing that makes no sense to others not of faith. It is something inside of us that communicates with God, it connects us with His heart and strengthens our own faith and resilience. If you do not currently pray in the Spirit, then give it a go. It strengthens the connection you have with God and strengthens you. Romans 8:26-27 says, 'the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.' Allow the Spirit to help you to pray.

3) ‘keep yourselves in the love of God’

 Once you have recognised and accepted the love of God, do all you can to remain mindful and accepting of it. We are told and convinced of the fact that God loves us throughout the Bible and since the creation of the universe, but have you ever considered that you have to be mindful of keeping yourself in God's love? keep yourselves in the love of God’ is a command. This is telling you that despite what comes your way, God's love is always available, but are you keeping that in mind and is your heart still focussed on following God? Life happens, you make mistakes, you have desires, you may get bored, fed up, lose the passion you once had, encounter tragedy, feel burnt out. Yet, when you encounter these things ensure you remind yourself of the truth, and that how you live, what you do and think matters. Do not turn your back on or wander away from God. It will not go well for you - look at the previous verses for how that pans out - for humans and angels alike. Even if you don’t feel like it, stay obedient. Keep reminding yourself of who God is, keep meeting and talking to other believers, keep praying and keep going. Keep yourself in God's love - lead a life that makes it easy for God to love you. We all see the different moods, characters and behaviours of children. Sometimes it is so easy to see things to love in them, when they are kind, generous, supportive, fun. Then there are other times! Times when it is easy to dislike them, and it takes work to love them. It is the same for us in our relationship with God. Are you acting like His loveable child, or are you making it difficult for God to love you? Keeping a loving relationship with God alive is your responsibility as well as God's. God will do His part, will you do yours? Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:9–10). Jesus, the Son of God tells us how to keep in the love of God -through obedience. Children show love and trust when they do as they are told. It is not something any of us probably like, but it is still true. As God's child, are you remaining in His love and doing as He asks? 

'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.'

Woe to them

 Still continuing to speak about false teachers, Jude leads on from how to spot them, to this;

*11*Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. *12*These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; *13*wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. 

Jude 11–13.

Well, as Jude writes this he seems really sad and distressed. The many connotations he uses as well as the first exclamation - ‘Woe to them!’ all build together to build a sad, derelict picture. Jude is expressing great distress and sorrow for these people that have gone off track. Jude is showing that false teachers, these people leading irreverent lives are to be pitied, not judged. Jude knows that they are not living in the freedom they could have and he knows what awaits them so that prompts him to express deep sadness over them. Jude shows what the outcome will be for the people who are living a false life of faith and lead others to do the same - he explains it in this letter. Jude sees it is an awful thing to see others follow the desires of the human nature rather than God’s way and he is full of sorrow about it. 

Is that your response when you see others going off track? 

It can seem that it is easier to judge others than to express 'woe' over them. When you see others going awry, what is your response? Do you wish to reach out and help them or give them a good telling off?  These people are lost, they are in error, they need help. If you were going wrong, what would help you? Let us treat one another well and do our best to lead others into truth. 

Verses 12-13 are full of oxymorons that demonstrate the contradictory lifestyles of these men and women swayed by incorrect teaching. It shows the unnatural way the false teachers are living; ‘waterless clouds’, ‘swept along’, ‘shepherds feeding themselves’.  These are all contradictory, and describe what does not occur naturally. How can clouds be waterless or shepherds only feed themselves? Surely they cannot be classed as shepherds If they do that? These phrases are showing that the false teachers are living contrary to the natural way. This way of life should not be. It is contrary to the design of God and His natural order. No wonder Jude declares 'woe' over them. They have got something wrong and they cannot see it, they believe they are forgiven and free but instead of living in the freedom of God which separates us from sin, they are continuing in sin whilst saying they believe in God. It seems that the false teachers declare with their mouths that there is a God that has changed their lives, whilst continuing to live a life unchanged in some areas. They are still being ‘swept along’ with the desires of the body, living life as the rest of the world does; unboundaried and untamed. Not living in the full realisation of complete freedom and forgiveness through Jesus which leads to a life of repentance, forgiveness and unbounded love. (Not continuous sin, excuses and immoral behaviour). No wonder Jude is distressed by this; some people are going along thinking they are living a life with God, but they are not aligning their words and actions with God’s expectations, desires and plans for their lives. Therefore they do not fully know the love and freedom that Jesus has won for them. 

You may now be asking yourself, well, what can i do about it? 

Well, firstly, double check your own life. Consider what you are demonstrating about a life of faith. Are you really living as God wants you to? Or are you stuck with things that are holding you back but you are not letting go of? Today, God offers you a new chance to align your life with the life He intends for you - are you going to accept it? The people Jude is speaking about may not have intended to lead people astray, but they have got something wrong and got carried away with their own thoughts and desires and taught others to do the same. So keep a check on yourself. Be mindful of what you express and model to others about a life of faith. Deal with the sin that so easily entangles and get help to get out of it.

Secondly, are you confident in spotting false teaching? Are you mindful of what are you exposing yourself to? Are you good at aligning what you read, hear and watch with the Bible as your plumb line of truth? Do you just listen to what you want to hear or whatever is popular? Do you read your Bible? Unless you know what it says, how do you know if anything else lines up with it?

Thirdly, do you know people that may be going astray? If so, pray about how to speak to them and guide them into knowing God more fully in their lives. It is a deeply sad thing to see people not grasping the reality of the freedom and forgiveness they have in Jesus, there is no need to judge them, but there is reason to feel sad about it - so pray and speak as the Holy Spirit leads. 

Do you have new life?

 Next, Jude puts into context the problem with what the false teachers are promoting. Jude connects with the hearers of his words by recalling what has occurred through history with those who do not fully follow God. Jude demonstrates that the reality is much more than an individual person or sin, but has historical, spiritual and eternal significance;

*5*Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. *6*And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— *7*just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 

Jude 5–7.

Firstly, Jude calls to remembrance the fact that Jesus has always existed. We know that the physical incarnation of Jesus was not around when the Israelites escaped Egypt, but he was with his Father in heaven. He was seated with God when it all occurred and had a hand in their deliverance, and the destruction of those who did not believe. The generation that left Egypt were not the ones that entered the promised land (apart from 2) because they were not obedient and did not trust God in what He said He could do. Jude is drawing this parallel to the situation that the current believers are facing. Believers in Jesus have left their ‘Egypt’ - symbolically their old lives and slavery to sin - so why try to carry it into the future? 

Sin and sensuality cannot be permitted. This is what Jude is reminding his readers here. Once you have faith in God and understood who Jesus is, you cannot keep looking back or carrying habits/sins of the past because they are not part of your new life. The persons that follows Jesus is the person has left Egypt, and is now on the way to the promised land. Remember, only those who walked with genuine dedication and obedience to God (Joshua and Caleb) saw the fulfilment of God's promise. Just as the Israelites had to learn all those years ago, so the readers of this letter also need to learn; sin is not accepted in the kingdom of God, and it is not acceptable to live with it in our lives. Jude makes it clear that some ‘believers’ were destroyed before they could enter the promised land because of their lack of understanding of who God really is and who they were as a result. The same is true for us. You and I can be cut off from the people of God if we do not deal with the things that hold us back. If we are not serious about aligning our body, heart and minds to God's design, then we too will not enter into the promises God has for us. 

If you are still not convinced, then consider what Jude says about the angels - if heavenly beings cannot escape condemnation and judgement, how can we? It is important that we as humans recognise our, ‘own position of authority’ just as the angels needs to. We do have authority, but this position has limitations and boundaries just like the angels. God has made clear the expectations He desires us to live by, not because He is a tyrant or dictator, but because He is a loving Father and knows what is best for us. Being fooled into believing that living a life that enjoys and endorses sin and sensuality is ok is living outside of God’s will, and will do you harm. God wants to save you from that, this is why Jude is writing explaining about the reality of what will happen if those who have got it wrong do not change their ways. Just as the disobedient angels were removed from God's presence, and the original Israelites did not enter into the promised land, so all sin needs to be eradicated. The good news for us is that is why Jesus died. Jesus died because he took on all the sin of the world; past, present and future, so that we can be free from the power of sin, guilt and shame and have a relationship with God and a hope for the promises of God fulfilled in our lives. 

There follows a third example, just in case the message of abandoning God’s will, not trusting and dedicating your life to Him was not enough with the examples of the Israelites in Egypt and the fallen angels, we are now reminded of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two towns renowned for deplorable activities, for immorality, ‘unnatural desire’, these towns seem to epitomise sin in how they are portrayed. The lesson we can learn from these towns is that people who wantonly permit and promote sin are destined for destruction. Throughout the Bible it is clear that sin requires dealing with severely. It requires death. That is why in the Old Testament people made sacrifices to atone for their wrongdoings. Sin is such a big issue because it destroys our relationships. It severs the relationship we have with God and damages the relationships with those around us, let alone the relationship we have with ourselves. Sin is serious. It effects how we feel, how we see things, how we behave and how we relate to others and God, as well as our own sense of self-worth. Thankfully, Jesus has dealt with all sin. He has taken the punishment, the death required for every wrongdoing ever. Jesus has made it possible for us to be restored to God and others and even given us a chance for a new life ourselves. 

Have you embraced this new life? 

It is never too late to do so. Maybe today is a chance for you to put things right with you and God, you and others, and even you and yourself. You have the opportunity to be free from the guilt and shame of sin, to escape destruction and enter the promised land. Are you going to take it?

Spotting false teachers

 Jude has a loving, accepting and generous heart to these ‘beloved’ ones to whom he writes. They are beloved of God and of himself. They are affectionately known and attached to Jude, and from the first two verses we can see that he wishes them well. He wants the best for them, he wants them to know greater peace, mercy and love. Therefore he is writing to them as he has clearly had some news that has concerned him about their understanding and behaviour. So it is through love that he writes;

*3*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. *4*For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Jude v 3–4.

As Jude anticipated writing this letter, he really was excited about doing so because he knows the faith they have and share and it is exciting to communicate with those on the same page. Yet he clearly has been made aware of some concerns, and like someone who loves dearly, he now recognises that he needs to write in a different way - to instruct and warn, so that these people can get back on track. He loves these people and so does not want them to go astray, but wants them to be aware and prepared for danger. It is the same for us - we want to instruct, guide and warm our loved ones about the way they are going. For example, think of teaching a child to cross the road; you do not leave them to find out the danger themselves, but you see it, teach them how to keep safe and warn them of the dangers. Taking time to clearly explain and show what can happen and how to avoid harm. This is how Jude is writing to these people, from the perspective of a loving parent trying to guide these people in their faith. 

Jude sees that these beloved ones are in danger of tarnishing the faith they have by being swayed by unhelpful teaching. So he is writing to show them how to handle this. In these two verses he is showing that not all teaching is equal, that there are those that will turn others away from Christ, therefore we need to be aware of that and ready to respond - just like a child learning to cross the road - you need to stop, look and listen, and then decide how to react. Jude is showing that we should not accept everything we see, hear or read, but we need to learn to stop - reflect on the message being delivered, look - check to see if it lines up with other scripture and listen - to the Holy Spirit and to what people are teaching to check if they edifying Christ as Master and Lord or something else.

The people that are coming in and instructing this set of people, are what people now commonly term, “false teachers”. These are people claiming to be, and probably believing they are fellow followers of God. Yet they are not elevating Christ but other things. Somewhere along the way they have not fully believed that Christ is Lord, and they are convincing others to live as they do. Therefore we need to be on guard that the messages we are hearing, seeing and reading are glorifying of God not anything else. It may be that the concepts seem thought-provoking, insightful, persuasive, and inviting, but it doesn't necessarily them true. 

So what was happening? These false teachers were coming amongst the people of God and telling them about how they could believe in God, but also enjoy the pleasures of the world/flesh. They were not focussing on the fact that Christ has been crucified for every sin and therefore you do not need to be beholden to it anymore, rather they were modelling a life where sin was acceptable because Jesus died to take it away therefore it does not matter. They were focussing on things that distract from Jesus, not keeping the main thing the main thing. 

The reality is, it is sometimes nice to hear some of the things these people say, and we can want their theories and explanations to be true. The things they can tell us sound easy, inviting, like something we want or hope for. They appeal to our human desires. I think that in this day and age, we are more likely to be led astray. We are more likely to be exposed to and accepting of wayward instruction as we have even more influencers, ideas, teaching and theories accessible to us. The plethora of viewpoints and popular, interesting teaching that we can read, listen to and watch is huge through a wide range of media. So, we too really need to listen and take onboard what Jude is saying lest we become persuaded by those who are leading away from Christ. 

Jude can help you and I consider whether anything that we are accessing really does align with who Jesus is and what the Bible says. We  all need to learn to discern what is good and right to listen to, watch and read before we just take it onboard. Just because the person speaking says they are a christian, or what they say is popular does not always mean that we should follow them. Not all teaching is beneficial or uplifts Jesus. Make sure you know how to tell the difference between the genuine and the fake. This is what Jude is warning about. Be aware of what you are taking onboard. You have permission to (and there is an expectation that you) weigh what you are being taught. Jude was brave enough to counter this false teaching, he did not contend with the teachers themselves in these letters, but he equipped God’s people in how to respond to them and showing them how to spot them. Therefore ensure that you are equipped and that you are equipping others to follow Christ only. So how do you know if someone is genuinely leading to Christ or not?Jude shows us in v3-4 the main indicators for false teachers; 

1) If they are; teaching ‘sensuality’ and perverting the ‘grace of God’. In other words if they are teaching that; dong what your body wants is ok. Or if you ‘feel’ like doing something then go for it. You should be satisfied because God wants you to be happy - He says He will give you the desires of your heart, so go for it. Jesus died so that you don’t need to carry the weight of sin - you are forgiven, so it doesn’t matter if you’re giving into the desire of your heart or flesh, in fact it is permissible - These would all be the kind of things that false teachers may say. They may even back it up with scripture (out of context), but nowhere in the Bible does it teach that this is right. In fact, there is a lot of teaching about getting your desires in line, and there are multiple examples in scripture about people getting it wrong - learn from their mistakes, you don’t need to make your own. Your body, your emotions, your desires should not be your ‘Master and Lord’. Jesus should be.

2) False teachers also ‘deny’ Jesus as ‘Master and Lord’. Like hinted to in the first point, it is about who is in charge. Do those you are influenced by extol Jesus or do they deny the power, significance and salvation of Jesus? It may not be the main message of what they say, but if attention is drawn away from Jesus and onto something else, then be careful. Focus can be put onto many other things such as; people, angels, wealth, the body, Holy Spirit, sin, freedom. As you come across different teaching, ask yourself whether the main focus is Jesus. Are they majoring or minoring on him? If he is not the main focus, then do not allow that teaching to majorly impact your life as you will start to drift away from him and after other things. 

The message from these verses is that we should fight for the integrity of what we believe, and learn to evaluate what we are taught. Watch out for what you are taking onboard and ensure that you yourself are following Jesus as your only Master and Lord. Guard yourself from sensuality and from those who make less of Jesus, instead ‘contend for the faith’ - fight for it - knowing the importance of what you have and who Jesus is. The faith we contend for is the truth that Jesus is the Son of God, and he came and lived as a sin-free man before being condemned to die on the cross so that he could take the full weight of every sin and restore you and I to God the Father. There is nothing more you or I can do or believe than that. All of scripture leads to and through this fact. Do not let anyone else distract you with; superior knowledge, angelic dreams, power, influence, money, persuasive arguments. When you listen and learn from others, always consider who/what are they pointing at? Are they making much of anything or anyone else other than Jesus? If so, then as Jude tells us to contend for the faith we have. 

Mercy, Peace, Love

 *1*Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, 

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 

*2*May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 

Jude 1–2.

Leading on from last week, we are going to consider v2 in light of the introductory verse. If you are someone who realises they have been invited into loving relationship with Father God because of Jesus, and set apart for him, sealed with the Holy Spirit, then Jude speaks this blessing upon you, ‘May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.‘

I think this is interesting, as how do we recognise and increase in mercy, peace and love? Maybe this invites us to regularly ponder upon the significance and greatness of all Jesus has achieved through his life, death, resurrection and ascension throughout our life. Magnifying our appreciation and understanding of what God has done and seeing how it applies in our life. As well as being those that do not keep this mercy, peace and love for ourselves, but are those that extend these to others though they too may not deserve it.

Do you recognise that increasing mercy is available to you? Mercy means being forgiven though you don’t deserve it and not receiving the punishment sin deserves. Jesus’ death provides us with this great mercy, Are you aware of and grateful for forgiveness and freedom from every wrong thing you have ever done? Do you consider the torture and pain involved in Jesus giving you mercy? He took indescribable pain upon himself to free you from sin so that you can escape; judgement,  punishment, fear and the shame. Are you increasingly appreciative of this mercy? And are you increasingly merciful to those around you? Do you forgive and release others from their wrongs towards yourself as Jesus has done for you? You can multiply mercy in your life by appreciating it for yourself and by being a person of mercy to others as Jesus was. This is hard to do when we are hurt and offended, but it is not impossible. The Holy Spirit can help us, and we can help ourselves by considering who Jesus is and what he has already done. 

Everyone around the world seeks peace, peace between countries, peace in their households, peace in their own hearts. Yet do they experience it? Peace is; the freedom from anguish or disturbance, tranquility, a state of not being at war. 

Would we even know what to do with ourselves if we were truly at peace? There would be no cause for grumbling or discontent would there? Verse 2 shows that we can experience increasing peace as we develop our understanding of who we are in God. It is through that connection that we can experience freedom from anxiety, freedom from fear, and freedom from turmoil. The more that we recognise that Jesus truly is the Lord and Master, the more we can experience peace. So if you want to multiply peace in your life, get to know God better. Invest in relationship with Him and outwork your faith by being a person of peace to those around you. 

Lastly, love; intense affection, deep connection, taking pleasure and interest in due to an emotional attachment. This is how God responds to us, and He wants you to know that in deeper measure. He is firmly attached to you, He has great affection and delight in you. His love for you is never-ending and has no boundaries. It cannot be lost. Do not doubt it. God has tried, since the creation of the world to show you His love  - do you see it? All of the Bible is about God trying to show His love to people like you and I. He has poured out love for thousands of years and He hasn't stopped. He sent his son as a sacrifice to win back your love. Does He have it? Are you increasingly grateful, content and accepting of the love of God? Jude invites you to multiply love in your life. This means firstly acknowledging that God does indeed love you. That can be a huge stumbling block for some, and it took me years to acknowledge that God does much more than merely tolerate me. Yet, how can we deny it when there are verses such as;

 nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God’ Romans 8:39

‘the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge’ Ephesians 3:19,

‘Lord, how precious is your unfailing love, O God’ Psalm 36:6

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us HIs children!’ 1 John 3:1

Mulling on verses such as these can help you to see in greater measure how much God loves you. Once you really realise that, then you are able to multiply the love you have and can to express to others in your life, ‘We love because he (God) first loved us’ (1 John 4:19).

So, as you go through this week and the rest of your life;

‘May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.’

Called, Beloved, Kept

 

*1*Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, 

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 

*2*May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 

Jude 1–2.

In these opening verses of the letter of Jude, like any other letter, we can see to whom this letter is intended. Except that it is not to a particular address, city, town or group of people. It is, ‘To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ’. So, whoever is called, beloved of God and kept for Jesus are those to whom this letter is written - are you one of the intended recipients? What does it mean to be called, beloved and kept? 

‘To those who are called’. 

This implies those that have been selected, chosen and invited. Although those who have been invited may not come, so this is for those who have listened to the call of God and responded to follow. Those who have heard, accepted and are now living life showing who they are and who they are serving. God has called, have you heard his invite and accepted and followed or turned your back and walked away? God will continue to invite you to realise you are His beloved, even if you haven’t followed Him yet.

‘Beloved in God the Father’

Beloved = greatly loved, held in much affection, valued, prized, held dear. This is how Father God feels about you. If you are alive today, even if you do not realise it, or fully understand it - this is how God responds to you; You are His beloved. Held dear, highly valued and prized by God. Why not take a moment just to consider that.

‘Kept for Jesus Christ’

Not only have you been called and greatly loved, but you are also preserved, set apart and saved for Jesus. No matter what life throws at you, you are being protected and ‘kept’ for Jesus. God knows that His love and favour for us, and our responding ‘yes’ to His call will mean things will come against us, that’s why we have this assurance that we are ‘kept’ for Christ. Can you keep holding on through life’s struggles by accepting your call and knowing the deep, affectionate love of the Father? If you do, you will be part of the prize Jesus receives - you are being preserved and saved for him.