Jude

It took me about 8 minutes to read Jude’s letter.  Most of what Jude addressed could be modified with modern names of people and groups who aptly fit the descriptions that he gives.   But I think that would be missing the point the God is trying to deliver to his church through this slave of Christ.  I see Jude’s challenge to believers in verses 20 and 21 where he mentions three on-going actions in which we need to focus our energy.  We can look around and be tempted to question the faith in other people, but Jude says to build up our own faith.  That is the only faith over which we have influence.  We could accuse other people of being far from the center of God’s will, to which Jude charges us to put ourselves in the center of God’s will.  We will have our own struggles staying right there were we belong as we battle the flesh.  We could spend a lot of energy attempting to correct those who have rejected the mercy of “our Master, Jesus Christ” but we need to make sure that we are positioned, spiritually and emotionally, to receive that very same mercy.  I think the previous verses were warning for us to watch, it was only the last few verses where he explains how we should act this the dangers of this world.  Instructions that won’t change regardless of any circumstances in which we might find ourselves.

Stuart