WALKING IN GOD'S MERCY
Jude 20-21, "But ye, beloved, building up your selves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
I'm glad I am saved and can live life with the expectation of enjoying eternal life and the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude in today's passage speaks about three things the believer should be careful to do:
1. Build yourself up in the faith. Faith in this verse speaks of the sphere of what we believe. We need to be students of the Bible and take what we read and learn and build a faith walk with the Lord.
2. Maintain a spiritual prayer life. "Praying in the Holy Ghost." Most of the prayers of our day are prayers about personal comfort. We need to be praying about spiritual victories, i.e. revival, salvation decisions, Holy Spirit power, growth in discipleship etc. John Gill in his "Exposition of the Bible" states, "...the Holy Ghost is the author and editor of prayer, and an assister in it; without him saints cannot call God their Father, nor pray with faith and fervency, or with freedom and liberty." Let's learn to pray in the Holy Ghost.
3. Keeping yourself in the love of God. It is impossible for any person to not be loved by God, therefore, I believe this verse is speaking about our remaining constant based upon God's love for us. Keeping in view the love of God for us will bring us to the place of faithful service for Him. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Keeping ourselves in the love of God should lead us to obedience.
May we live daily in such a manner as to expect to know and realize the mercy of God and be blessed knowing we have eternal life.
Your Friend and His,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Take a moment to consider what you are doing to build yourself up in the faith.
2. What would help you most right now to grow your faith walk?
3. What does it mean to you to pray “in the Holy Ghost”?
4. Does your life reflect an understanding of how much God loves you? How is obedience to God connected to the thought of “…keeping yourself in the love of God”?