Tuesday, October 5
Read Jude
Think About It:
Jude wrote to the same believers who received Peter’s letters, intending to stir them up and remind them to take Peter’s warnings to heart. Jude had started to write a quiet devotional letter about salvation, but the Spirit led him to put down his harp and sound the trumpet! The epistle of Jude is a call to arms. We must defend the faith at all cost!
The enemy had wormed its way into the churches. They were ungodly, deceitful, and enemies of God’s grace. They deny the truth and are ordained to judgment (verse 4).
Jude was not content simply to remind his readers to pay attention to what Peter had written. He wanted to add his own words of warning by describing what the false teachers were like and what they would do the church. The Spirit of God led Jude to describe the characteristics of the apostates, reinforcing Peter’s words and at the same time, adding information.
They reject divine authority (verses 8-11), they resort to deliberate hypocrisy (verses 12-13. 16). Yet they receive their due penalty (verses 14-15).
A strong defense depends on strong people, and this applies to spiritual battle as military contests. If the church is to oppose and defeat the false teachers, then all of us in the church must be strong and able to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). We must remember God’s Word (17-19) and build your Christian life (verses 20-21) praying in the Spirit. We need to have the gifts that allow us to exercise spiritual discernment (verses 22-23), yet still show mercy when needed.
Jude ends with a warning that we must always trust in God and He will keep us from falling away. He will bring you great joy through our Savior, Jesus Christ. All Glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Family Time:
- Read Jude verse 3.
- Did you know that the word ‘contend’ means to struggle or wrestle? The word contend is a very active word. What could “contending” earnestly for the faith that was delivered to the Saints mean?
- When we know the Word and we know the gospel message and all the truths that are in the Bible it becomes clear what we are contending for.
- Read verses 16 to 19 again. These sinful ways are what we are to contend against!
- Finally, read verse 20. Here are some ways we are to contend! Staying in Christ is active work, we cannot just sit around and do nothing. We need to seek Him!
