Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ~Jude 1:21
Jude wrote about spiritual apostasy during the days leading up to the coming of the Lord for the church. Apostasy is a falling away. This falling away includes men being lovers of themselves, doctrinal heresies, the rise of false teachers, sin abounding, the conscience of men being seared, and an indifference to the things of the Lord. The last few verses in Jude are a prescription given to believers on how to prevent becoming cynical and carried away with this falling away. The first thing Jude says is, “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”
Our Lord gave the Lord’s Table to the church so that we would remember the offering of His body and the shedding of His blood as the payment for our sins. Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me.” However, we should daily thank Him for our salvation and for the sacrifice of Christ when He laid down His life for us. A couple of days ago, I read Psalm 22, which is a messianic psalm about the Lord’s suffering on the cross. What Jesus endured for us is beyond our comprehension. Yet, with love and unrestraint, He tasted death for every man. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Keep yourselves in the love of God by remembering the cross.
We can keep ourselves in the love of God by making sure our communion with the Lord is kept each day. First, it is a daily private time in His Word. It is time that we set aside when we allow the Lord to speak to us from His Word. Second, it is a daily prayer time. This is where we pour out our heart to Him in worship, for the needs of others, and for the needs we have personally. Our communion with our Lord is the opportunity for us to let Him know that we love Him. Make sure your time with God is not hurried, frequently interrupted, or hampered by distractions.
“And of some have compassion, making a difference:" Do you have compassion for the lost? Do you have compassion for those who are out of the way? A little boy who attended a soulwinning church was asked what the difference was between this church and the one he attended before that. He replied, “You love a fella like me at this church.” Paul said, “For the love of Christ constraineth us....” Compassion for those who need to be saved is a sure way of keeping ourselves in the love of God.
“Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Paul instructs us to be looking for the coming of our Lord. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” We must also be listening for His coming: the sound of the trumpet and the voice of the archangel. Even more so, we must love His appearing. The prayer on our heart and lips must be, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” We must have a longing in our hearts for Jesus to come for us. His coming will snatch us from this present, evil world right before the wrath of God is poured out on this world during seven years of Great Tribulation. Don’t let the spiritual decline of this age, cynicism, or busyness make you indifferent. Keep yourselves in the love of God!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 7
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