I wrote down some of my thoughts; for what they’re worth.
First of all, how humble Jude starts his
letter. I found myself saying, “Jude you were not only the brother of James,
but Jesus was your brother, wouldn’t you want people to know that?” I am fairly
confident that if Jesus was my brother, I would want other people to know this
tidbit. The thought crossed my mind, if he had Facebook, wouldn’t he list Jesus
as his brother? Post pics? Status updates like, “The party really got going
when Jesus turned the water into wine.”
To Jude, it was more important that people knew he was a servant of Jesus
than his half-brother. Even as a brother,
he had invested himself completely into following Jesus. Here was a man that devoted his being completely
into following and serving Jesus. This is an amazing testament to the validity
of Jesus being who he said he was, because Jude would have known Jesus on more
subjective bases than others; being they were brothers.
After I had processed that thought some, I moved onto a
few others. I appreciate the way Jude addresses the recipients of the letter. He
first says, “to those who have been called.” What does it mean to be called? I want to be
like Jude and completely vested into the call. During our family devotions this
morning we talked a lot about our call and why we are followers of Jesus. I
have heard it said that there is more historical proof that Jesus walked the
Earth, than Alexander the Great. So there is no doubt that Jesus really walked
the face of the earth, but was he who he claimed to be; the only Son of God. By absolute faith I choose to say, yes. Either
he was completely the Son of God, a blatant liar, or clinically insane. Since I
choose to believe that Jesus is the only Son of God, then, I choose to believe
his teachings and commands. In following Jesus all the pressure is off of me, because
I can direct people to what Jesus said; not what I said. This allows me to be
completely entrusted to Christianity. The problem is that my actions don’t always
measure up to my call. Rather than sulk in my failures, I call upon the one who
is able to rescue me in my weakness. It is not a license for sin; it is a
reliance on His grace.
After called, Jude refers to them as those loved by God
the Father. It is a great assurance to
know that I have someone who loves me unconditionally with a perfect love. My
life revolves around my family. I adore my wife. She is amazing in so many different
ways. I could not be prouder of my kids and the young adults they are becoming.
I pray daily for each of them and pour out everything I have into helping them
be successful. The problem is that this is not a perfect love. I mess up. I say
the wrong things, get angry unjustly, and the list goes on and on. The love
that my Father has for me is a perfect love. There is never a time where he
messes up or disciplines me for the wrong motive. Even though there are situations that I don’t understand
or can’t wrap my brain around. There is great comfort in the fact that I am perfectly
loved by my Father in heaven.
Lastly, Jude use the word “kept” by Jesus. I was now
stuck on a single word. I couldn’t shake it for most of the day. It is such a
reassurance to know that there is nothing that can take me from the hand of
God. There is no place that I can wonder or mistake that I can make that will
take me from my God. It was paid for on a cross at Calvary. In Romans chapter 8
we receive this incredible promise. Verse 38 says, “and I am convinced that nothing
can ever separate us from Gods love.” The list of things that can’t separate us
from God’s love include things like death, life, angels, demons, fears for
today, worries about tomorrow and even includes the powers of hell. I am kept!
It has been a two day study in the letter of
Jude and I have made it one verse. I am excited to see what is to be revealed in
the next 24 verses. I know that it does come with a warning to false leaders
and teachers that can creep into the church and turn God’s grace and love into
a “sloppy agape” type of grace and love. I am confident that his love is real,
as well as, his discipline.
