Howdy, Friends! It is a particularly joyful day in my little corner of the world. Christmas break starts today! That means I take a break from teaching kiddos and shift my concentration to revising a novel. Hm. On second thought, maybe “break” is too strong a word? But before we get to that, let’s take a look at the book of Jude, shall we? It’s a short little book packed with a lot (as most of our Bible books are). Take a quick peek and share in the comments what strikes you out of Jude’s words, then come back next week when we talk about Revelations. I can’t wait! One of my favorite images of Christ is on those pages!
Jude 22-23a (NIV)–Be merciful to those in doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them…
I got my toes stomped last week in III John. I got my toes stomped again this week. Oh my word. It is so easy to sit in front of the TV and pass judgment. It is so easy to walk by others in the mall or on the street and look down on them. It is even quite easy, at times, to sit in our own churches and think not-so-pretty thoughts about the person across the room. Be honest. It happens to all of us.
The thing is… we can’t be that way, especially to those who don’t know Christ. Our job is not to sit and stare down our noses, shake our heads and complain about those who “just don’t get it.” How often do we show mercy? Not only to the ones who are lost, but to the ones among us who have lost their way?
This verse struck me today because I realized I had been looking down on someone without even realizing it. It is so easy to pass judgment when someone fails. Oh, we can couch it as concern or any number of things, but the fact is, judgment is judgment. And I, for one, need to stop. Stop judging what the man on the street corner will do with any money I hand him. Stop judging the guy flying down the highway at 100 miles per hour. Stop judging the actress who can’t seem to stay married longer than three hours. Stop judging. Period. Is anyone else feeling it?
So, it wasn’t a Christmas kind of post. I apologize for that. But I’m feeling the weight of conviction. I’m guessing I might not be the only one. Lord, help us to see and love as you see and love.
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
I am over a week late in getting my Jude response posted, but here I am now. I was with my family over Christmas and I had full intentions of getting my post on here anyway, but when I looked at Jude I was a total blank. I just needed quiet and there wasn’t much of that. Now as I sit down I am seeing Jude 4 jumping out at me. “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our Sovereign and Lord.”
This is just another reminder to remain vigilant. To keep watch and beware of those false teachers and others around us. To remain strong in the Lord and our faith, but also to continue to study God’s Word so that we can identify those among us who are misusing God’s teaching.
We see this on TV and in the news when groups look to use God’s word to further their own cause and not His. They twist whatever He has said to support their view. What is scariest is when this happens in our churches. When someone in a position of authority either intentionally or unintentionally misleads God’s flock. It is scariest when there are people looking to really know and understand God, but are not doing enough on their own and are relying on these teachers.
With the book of revelation and the Promise of Gods coming, there is not time to sit around and figure this out later. The time is now and this is just another one of God’s many reminders of that.
Jodie says
“With the book of revelation and the Promise of Gods coming, there is not time to sit around and figure this out later.” This may be your best line all year. SO TRUE. It IS scary that there are false teachers. Even some amazing, famous Christians with the best intentions can be false teachers. It is now time to be careful more than ever. We need to pray for vigilance and discernment for sure.