A Call to Persevere

Jude v. 3-4  Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Jude v. 17-21  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.

            Each generation of Christians looks at their surrounding world and wonders how things could possibly stray any further from God’s original design of a good and righteous creation that would honor him. It seems like the words of Isaiah ring far more truthfully today than ever before:

Isaiah 59:14-15 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

            So what are we to do? Jude does not leave us in a distraught state of mind, for there is hope—there is always hope.

Jude v. 20-22  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…

            The answer is a simple one; we are to persevere (i.e., continue on in spite of difficulty or opposition) and be the Christ-like example we are called to be in dark and tainted world. And then Jude gives us the most comforting of doxologies:

Jude v. 24-25  To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            At times we become overwhelmed with the social and political declines all around us. We wonder how much longer it will be until the blessed hope of your promised return. Forgive our impatience and our doubting. Create in us a steadfast resolve to reflect your love and to honor you in everything that we do, or say, or even think. Give us the strength to persevere until you come. Thank you for your mercy and grace.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional A Call to Persevere appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com