A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (July 2, 2015)
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21)
The Book of Jude in the New Testament is a very short book but it speaks very loudly about our present times. This epistle was written especially to warn the church against immoral teachers and alarming heresies which were endangering the faith of believers. Jude was admonishing his readers to earnestly contend (fight, strive, labor fervently) for their faith!
The scripture says they were experiencing an influx of ungodly men who were turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (sexually unrestrained). They were mockers of the faith, denying both God and Jesus, and despising any kind of dominion. In other words, they did not want anything or anybody telling them what to do or what not to do. Sound familiar? We currently have lawsuits to remove the Ten Commandments from public places and courts redefining marriage because people do not want anybody, including God, telling them what to do. What should be our response? How do we contend for the faith? It is not what you think. Jude said it best so here it is:
But, beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 14:14), Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:17-23).
When we hear contend our first thoughts are usually emotional and carnal. They could involve legal actions, protests, political debates, etc. None of those things are necessarily wrong but they were not the main concern of Jude. Jude’s main concern was for us to keep ourselves in the love of God and keep looking for the mercy. He was more concerned with our hearts and the salvation of the lost because he knew that in the end love is the only thing that would not fail (1 Cor. 13:8).
We can contend in the Spirit without being contentious in the flesh. We can love the unlovely, have compassion on the lost, and in doing so snatch some right out of the fire. The true battle is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. That is one more reason it is important for you and I to be able to pray in the Spirit. It will build you up in your faith and help you keep love in your heart when you feel like fleshing out.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13)
