Jude 3-4

Jude 3-4

Beloved ones, while making every effort to write to you all regarding our common salvation, we have a necessity to write while encouraging you all to exert intense effort for the faith that was handed over to the holy ones once for all.  For some men slipped in unnoticed – the ones who have been formerly written about for this judgment, living without regard for religious belief, who transform the grace of our God into extreme immorality, and who deny our only master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The opening verse here gives us a very interesting insight.  Jude wanted to write a letter about faith and salvation.  He had even been in the midst of writing it.  But then he got news of something else that he felt was more important and a more pressing threat.  Jude displays a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  He was planning one thing, but the Spirit led him in another direction.  He obeyed.  He followed.  He is a model for humble obedience.

Are you willing to be interrupted by God?  How do you know when God is trying to interrupt you?

Second Thought:

 Jude then warns about the people who have infiltrated the community.  Pay special note, though.  Jude isn’t warning about people who are talking about Jesus in a different way or focusing on a different element.  Jude isn’t talking about what we might call denominational differences today.  Jude is talking about people who live without regard for religious belief.  Jude is talking about people who ignore grace and tell the community to behave how they want.  Jude is talking about the fact that people who even deny Jesus Christ are being allowed to come into the community and have sway over the gathering.  Jude is concerned not because there are differences in the faith.  Jude is concerned because people of faith are allowing themselves to be led and influenced by people who have no faith!  Jude is concerned because Christians are willingly submitting to people who are not submitting to God.

Who is an authority in your life?  Are your authorities submitted to Christ?

Third Thought:

Now we look at what Jude says that we should do about it.  Jude says that we should contend for the faith.  We should wrestle for it and struggle for it.  The faith is worth fighting for!

Do you contend for the faith?  How do you do this?  Why do you do this?

Passage for Tomorrow: Jude 5-7