But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh (17-23).
Problems will come; false teachers and scoffers will try to dissuade us from the truth. Our best defense is to know the faith and be strong in it. Jude writes build yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love… Be merciful to those who doubt; save others…
Build yourselves up in the faith… work at it. Study to shew yourself approved (KJV) writes Paul in 2Timothy 2:15. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind is a similar thought from Romans 12:2. God’s Word reminds us over and over again to strengthen our ‘faith muscles’… read Scripture, meditate on Scripture and study Scripture.’
Pray, pray in the Spirit, speak with God, listen to God, follow the Lord’s lead, share your needs and listen for the Spirit’s response. Pray for strength to stand and wisdom to know truth from error. Don’t live your life on your own; live it in concert with the Spirit of the Lord.
Keep yourself of God’s love… stay connected with the Lord, especially when tempted to drift away. Remember God’s love and care and bask in it.
Reach out to others… don’t keep the faith to yourselves, use it to help others. Be merciful to those who doubt. Who hasn’t doubted? Encourage those who doubt and wrestle with things of faith. Help them. Discuss with them in a gentle way. Point them to God’s Word.
Save others. Share your faith through words and good deeds that others many see Jesus and be drawn to Him.
Jude packs plenty of practical faith living into these few words. God reminds me, “Now do it and in doing so, protect yourself from error.”
Hour by hour, Lord, show me how to live these practical words of faith and maturity. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen
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