A Different View By Betty Crabtree

September 15, 2024

How many times in reading scripture, you read casually and your mind wanders off to something else? I have, and I don’t think I am any different than most everyone else. But in reading the book of Jude recently, I REALLY paid attention to what was said. It’s only one chapter but is full of instructive caution. His greeting is so good. “Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.”

Yep, I will take all that I can get! He goes on to say he found it necessary to exhort (encourage, advise) to earnestly contend for the faith for ungodly men had crept unnoticed into the church who turn the grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. The program of these infiltrators? Dirty sex rule and rulers thrown out, glory dragged in the mud, greedy for profit, grumbles, complainers walking after their own lusts, flattering people to gain advantage.

Whoa! Sure sounds familiar. Verse 17, “But you beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how they told you there would be mockers in the last times who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.” V.19, “ These are sensual persons, who cause divisions not having the Spirit.” Now to sum up verses 20-23, “But you beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” The Message Bible says it this way, “keeping your arms opened and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!”

Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. V.24, “Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, V.25, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”