Building Up Yourselves
Jude
Building Up Yourselves, Jude. This is the second benediction from the book of Jude and is tucked in just a few verses from the one we have already discussed. Framed in the form of a command, we are encouraged to be building, praying, keeping, and looking.
Beloved, building up yourselves
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.
Jude 1:20,21, KJV
Building Up Yourselves
Jude
This is the second benediction from the book of Jude and is tucked in just a few verses from the one we have already discussed. I am often amazed at how much is said in just a few succinct words. Framed in the form of a command, we are encouraged to be building, praying, keeping, and looking. This reminds us that the Christian life is an active life; God is truly sovereign, but that does not make us robots, and that does not mean we are to just sit around and watch God work.
Building up yourselves on your most holy faith: The carpenter does not build a house in one day. First the foundation
is laid, and then the house is built upon that foundation one board (or
brick) at a time. Our foundation, as a Christian, is Christ; as we read
and study His Word we are adding bricks to that foundation. The Holy Spirit continues to lead and guide us so that our "house" continue to get stronger and more stable.
Praying in the Holy Ghost:
The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray, acknowledging that all things come
from God. Our prayer life should be an active one. Not only should we
set aside times for prayer, but we should always be in an attitude of
prayerful conversation with our Lord. What power we have through Christ! Prayer is not just a means to ask for help or things from God, but, rather, prayer is a means for us as believers to fellowship and worship this wonderful God we love and serve.
Keep yourselves in the love of God:
How do we do this? Oh how many are the distractions that continually
pull us away from Christ! The world is steeped in ungodliness, and we
are so prone to follow in its steps. The closer we remain to our Lord,
the less affect the world has on us. Let us continue to cry out to God that He would enable us to shake off the things of this world and cling more solidly to Him, alone.
Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life:
Here is the key to the entire benediction. Only through the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ can we achieve anything in our own spiritual life.
Only through His mercy can we live for Him; only through His mercy can
we be found building, praying, and keeping.
What an amazing God we have!
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