Scripture
20But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22Be merciful to those who doubt. Jude 20-22
Observation/Application
Paul has just finished describing those who sound spiritual but are causing divisions in the church as they follow their natural desires. He is pointing out “these hidden reefs” (vs. 12) to the believers so they don't run aground on their griping, complaining, and spiritual manipulation. Continuing with this theme of being adrift in an angry sea (of which Paul was very familiar) he’s calling believers to take the helm, get a grip on the wheel and to steer the rudder away from destruction. We will steer towards that which we are looking at. So, instead of focusing on false leaders he calls us to focus on staying in the love of Jesus. What has our attention has our affection. Like a captain of a ship to his first mate he points out the dangers but keeps our eyes on the horizon. There are there three ways get a fresh grip on on Christ’s love despite the currents and storms seeking to sink our faith. “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12-13)
Keep Building: “But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher]” (vs. 20). When I feel like I’m sinking and panicking I must lift my eye back to Christ like Peter. No one else is responsible for my spiritual growth but me. I can’t play the victim. I can’t level the claim that “I’m not getting fed spiritually” when It’s not anyone else’s job but mine. No one else can make me get up and read these Scriptures and journal and follow God throughout my day. It’s easy to get distracted, disillusioned and discouraged when it feels like no progress is being made. Yet, before anything can be built up on the outside I need to continue to strengthen the relational foundation of Christ on the inside. Before I can progress externally I must make progress internally with my Savior.
Keep Praying: “Pray in The Holy Spirit” (vs. 20) Often our prayers are self centered, but in order to get a grip on our situation we must be gripped by The Spirit. When our prayer life changes so does our perspective. Guzik puts it this way: “Many of our prayers are directed by our own needs, by our own intellects, or by our own wishes and desires. But there is a higher level of prayer: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:26). Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly insurmountable waves that threaten to drown my I’ll start praying in my prayer language and I’ll keep doing so until I sense some direction, a clearing in the clouds, a sense of peace.
Keep Waiting: “and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.” (Vs. 21). I love this contrast between being anxious about the coming crisis or about the coming King. The third way to get a grip and “stay in the love of God” is to keep waiting an looking for the Lord’s return. This puts everything into perspective. If I begin to give into the siren’s call that lulls me into the lie that this life is all there is, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Notice says to look “forward”. There is more to life than this life. The tests are training. When we realize afresh how much mercy He has had on us it allows us to move out of our doubts and “…And have mercy on some, who are doubting” (vs. 22)
Prayer
I know so many right now who are barely holding on. Many of friends are going through physical, mental, emotional, financial, spiritual storms which threaten to sink them. I pray that You would meet them in the middle of their storms as You have in mine. I want to make my home in Your love when all around me is raging. Forgive me for where I’ve stopped building, praying and waiting while trying to bale water from the boat with a bucket too small to handle the rising waters. Even if it feels like You’re taking a nap while I’m about to go down, what do I have to fear when You are with me and I am in your love? “22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25)
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