Jude 20-23
Verses 17-19 of Jude (Part One) warns Believers to watch for false teachers. Now, in verses 20-23, we are exhorted to demonstrate the edifying practices of building, praying, keeping, wating, showing mercy, and saving.
"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit." v. 20
How do we build ourselves up in holy faith? We build upon the foundation of our salvation through Jesus Christ. We shelter the faith that God has apportioned to us and build on that faith through reading the Word, communicating with God every day, assembling with Believers in fellowship, praying in the Spirit, and living in a spirit of agape love...just to name a few. This may read like a legalistic list of to-do's; however, these activities are not meant to be strivings and strainings. When we are in a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, these acts become a joyous manifestation of our love for Him.
"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." v. 21
God's love...His unconditional, unchanging love...has always, is always, and will always attend to us. His love does not change like ours does. This is why Jude challenges us to keep ourselves in God's love. We Believers must be diligent and intentional in guarding our lives under the fullness of God's love. Sometimes I lose focus and step out of His fullness because I get impatient in the waiting, or I believe I can handle it myself, or I am just acting out as a rebellious child who want to test her boundaries. We all do this at times. This is why Jude commends us to attend to God's love as we wait (expect and look for) the fulfillment of His promises.
"Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear -- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." v. 22-23
Is it easier to show compassion to someone who is struggling with doubt or someone who outright denies God? In our human condition, it is easier to have mercy on those who are searching for answers and thirsting for Living Water. These are the ones we minister God's unconditional love to; in sharing God's kindness, they are more inclined to be led to repentance and snatched from the path to Hell. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, we have the responsibility and the privilege to throw others the life-line that was tossed to us. We show mercy to the soul, reverence to the Father, despise the things and desires of flesh (those things opposed to God).
Father, I ask that You would increase our holy faith and cause us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. You are the One Who grants us discernment to stay in the boundaries You have set for each of us to protect our lives and witness as we eagerly watch for the fulfillment of Your soon-coming promises. Keep our eyes upon you, Lord, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. May we know Your mercy in our lives, so that we may share the overflow of that mercy with others. Stregthen our spirit-man that we may live in victory over the strong-man. You deserve all the glory and recognition and authority, Jesus. May You be seen clearly through Your body of Believers. Amen.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
The Hardest Thing...
"Train [dedicate] a child in the way [path, journey, manner, direction] he should go, and when he is old [shows age] he will not turn [depart, be removed, leave undone] from it." ~~Proverbs 22:6
Carrying a baby for nine months was not difficult for me...was blessed with healthy pregnancies. Giving birth was relatively painless...thanks to modern medicine and epidurals. Even the long nights of interrupted sleep was temporary. Dealing with broken bones, stitches, stomach viruses, sibling rivalries, and responsibility for five children can be exhausting. Living with and raising four teenagers is quite trying at times...okay...almost every day; but, nothing...nothing has been as difficult as the mother-place I find myself in now.
The hardest thing as a mother is learning how, when, and to what degree to let go...release my children, one-by-one, to make their own choices, discover who they are, and grow outside my protective presence. Proverbs 22:6 provides me comfort and confidence. I have dedicated our children to the Lord...I have trained them up in and with the Truth through words and action...I have shown them the narrow path -- how to recognize it and follow it. Now I have to "put my faith where my mouth is."
As our second child prepares to graduate from high school in three weeks, I am reminded of this Scripture when I start to mentally and emotionally hyperventilate. "...and when he is old he will not turn from it." I just have to rest in the assurance that all of our kids know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Whatever choices they make, I must pray that they will be drawn closer to Him. I must love my children unconditionally as Christ loves me. I must trust God to protect them when I cannot. I must have confidence that no matter what choices they will make, even those poor choices, that God's conviction and grace will abound (just as it does for me).
I pray that our children will desire God more than they desire any person or position.
I pray that our children will serve God before they serve man or themselves.
I pray that our children will seek and do God's will - His absolute best for them - before they seek and do my will or any other man's will.
I pray that our children will crave the Word of God more than they crave the words of others.
I pray that our children will hold to the teachings and foundation that they have received and not depart from it for very long or very far or at all.
Carrying a baby for nine months was not difficult for me...was blessed with healthy pregnancies. Giving birth was relatively painless...thanks to modern medicine and epidurals. Even the long nights of interrupted sleep was temporary. Dealing with broken bones, stitches, stomach viruses, sibling rivalries, and responsibility for five children can be exhausting. Living with and raising four teenagers is quite trying at times...okay...almost every day; but, nothing...nothing has been as difficult as the mother-place I find myself in now.
The hardest thing as a mother is learning how, when, and to what degree to let go...release my children, one-by-one, to make their own choices, discover who they are, and grow outside my protective presence. Proverbs 22:6 provides me comfort and confidence. I have dedicated our children to the Lord...I have trained them up in and with the Truth through words and action...I have shown them the narrow path -- how to recognize it and follow it. Now I have to "put my faith where my mouth is."
As our second child prepares to graduate from high school in three weeks, I am reminded of this Scripture when I start to mentally and emotionally hyperventilate. "...and when he is old he will not turn from it." I just have to rest in the assurance that all of our kids know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Whatever choices they make, I must pray that they will be drawn closer to Him. I must love my children unconditionally as Christ loves me. I must trust God to protect them when I cannot. I must have confidence that no matter what choices they will make, even those poor choices, that God's conviction and grace will abound (just as it does for me).
I pray that our children will desire God more than they desire any person or position.
I pray that our children will serve God before they serve man or themselves.
I pray that our children will seek and do God's will - His absolute best for them - before they seek and do my will or any other man's will.
I pray that our children will crave the Word of God more than they crave the words of others.
I pray that our children will hold to the teachings and foundation that they have received and not depart from it for very long or very far or at all.
I pray that our children will learn from our mistakes and embrace our successes to make them better parents than we have been.
At the end of the day, I can rejoice in the fact that God has carried us "Thus far..." We are blessed with kids who love the Lord beyond their layers of hormones, testosterone, arguments, and just plain "teenager-ness."... and for that I am grateful.
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