Scripture
keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Jude 1:21
Observation
Paul is instructing The Church on how to live in the love God. Nothing can stop God’s love for us but I can stop accessing, better yet, abiding in God’s love if I choose to follow the cravings and desires of my flesh. It would be like having a house but choosing to stand in the rain. The shelter is there, the covering, the warmth, but God will never force me to live there. Why wouldn’t I want to live in the love of God? House Rules. I remember talking with some folks who used to live on the street and asking them why so many government houses sat empty as they chose instead to sleep in a cardboard box. They told me they don’t like the rules- no drugs, alcohol, curfews, clothing, meetings, etc. They preferred the “freedom” of the streets even though that “life” was not really living. So many of us do the same. We say, “God loves me just the way I am” and then refuse to live in that love because He wants to love us to true freedom by changing us from the inside out, by bringing us in, and retraining our thinking, and healing our hearts.
Application
Paul doesn’t just tell us to live in God’s love, he describes what it looks like: Inward, Outward, Upward.
Inward: “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” Jude 1:20
This is entering the House of Love everyday, all day, everywhere I go. I’m the only one who can choose to seek the Lord, spend time in His Word, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. No one choose to grow spiritually for me. I can’t show someone else how to live in the love of God if I’m not living there myself. Just like building a house, it won’t happen without a plan, it won’t happen automatically just because I’m a Christian. In a world that is constantly tearing me down, I must constantly, consistently build my self up in my faith.
Outward: 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23
Living in the love of God is realizing I don’t deserve this love and then it’s showing this love to those around me. Notice the different responses to each person. There’s no one-size-fits-all response, but there is one motivation behind each response- the love of God. As we have received mercy we now show mercy to those who are doubting the existence of God. David Guzik defines compassion as “watching over someone, helping them through accountability.” Some need to be confronted quickly and clearly as their life is about to go up in flames. This is through loving correction.
Upward: 24To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24-25
This is a powerful reminder that it is God who keeps us, holds us (if we let Him), and sustains us even when there’s so much falsehood and faithlessness around us.
Prayer
I’ve been looking at so much around me and in that I’ve forgotten my focus of that final day when You and I will meet face to face. I will look back on this life and see all the places where Your love kept me from stumbling. When I’m living stressed instead of in your love it’s because I forgot who was actually in control, who built this house of love. You’re the only one with glory, majesty, power and authority and you’ve invited me to live in your glorious presence. Why would I choose to live any other way but in Your love? When I’m in Your love I show Your love to those around me.
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