Show Mercy

Jude 1:17-23New International Version (NIV)

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1+%3A+17-23&version=NIV

Do these verses sound like the times in which we live today?  We see and hear of people who do just this, follow their own desires. I heard a story just the other day about a couple who are male and female but the female is a male and the male is a female.  Are they not following their own desires rather than the plan God had for them?  I heard someone once say that there is no way to stop teenage pregnancies because it is just a natural desire that cannot be controlled.  Are we following God’s plan or their own selfish desires?

How are we built up in an ungodly world?  We pray, we read our Bibles, we fellowship with other believer, we show mercy to others, and we believe.  We seek Him with all our hearts and at the day appointed by Him, we will see Him face to face.  We must hold on to that truth and be true to Him while doing so. 

When we are able to do this, it will be much easier for us to show mercy to others.  Knowing that God has shown mercy to us.  There are times that I would like that mercy shown to me rather than me always having to show it but that is not what this passage tells us to do.  We are to not write off those who doubt but rather be gentle with them.  Some are almost to the fire but possibly we can give them hope through Jesus Christ and they will avoid the fire.  Others, we need to be cautious of so we are not entangled in their web but still we must show them mercy.  It does not say to hate them but we must hate the sin.  We must realize that it is only by the grace of God that we are not in their place and it is by His grace that we remain free.  To those that I mentioned above as illustrations, we must pray for them that they too may find the love of Christ.  Seek Him and know Him so that you may show the mercy to others that He has shown and will show us.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Working Our Way to the Top

Jude 1:9-16

New International Version (NIV)

9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A+9+-+16&version=NIV)

As we continue in Jude we see that even the Archangel Michael did not rebuke satan but left that to God.  I was curious as to where this story was in the Old Testament, the footnote in my ESV Bible indicated that this was a lost writing, possibly a lost section of the Testament of Moses. However, these words ring true with Jesus teaching that we should turn the other cheek when being slapped by one of those who reject God, our enemies.  (Matthew 5:39) 

As we read further in this scripture we see a clear picture of who Jude is speaking of.  In our world today I see those who will destroy anyone that get in their way.  They may make you think they are on your side, that they adore you and will even eat at your table.  All along they are out to destroy you because they think you will get ahead of them if they don’t.  I have to think of the show Celebrity Apprentice, where they talk behind each others back and do whatever they can to get the biggest threat off the show. I have run into these people before.  They have hurt me and yet I feel sorry for them.  I know that their time is coming and it won’t be a pretty sight for them.  I, myself, need to be careful that I am not one of them.  I have dreams and desires in this world.  I would like to be given the job of my dreams.  I have ambitions to be considered worthy of certain positions but I must always remember that there is only One who sits in the position to judge this world and I praise God that I am not Him but that He is who He is! 

Notice verse 16, these people are described as grumblers and faultfinder, that could be me, I have a tendency to grumble at times.  Yet, I have been forgiven and when I grumble, I am convicted of my thoughts and words. Let us not find ourselves in the corporate world, clawing ourselves to the top, but rather let us find ourselves seeking Him with all our hearts, knowing that in the end, it does not matter what our status is on this earth but what matters is that we hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Are they a Lost Cause?

Jude 1:5-8

English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A5-8&version=ESV)

As Christians we are so often accused of being closed-minded, judgmental people who have no tolerance for anything.  But here in Jude, we are reminded of the power of our Lord and Savior.  I want to take special note to Jude’s explanation as to who led the people out of Egypt, “Jesus”.  This is one of the clearest verses I have ever read that equates Jesus as God.  Yes, Jesus came to this earth in the form of man, being fully God.  I love the way Jude uses His name here!  Remember Jesus?  He is the one that loved the sinner, who walked and ate with the unclean, who seemed to accept anyone into His fold.  Yet, He is the One who destroyed those who did not believe including those in Sodom, Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, who practiced sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desires, yes, He destroyed them.

I know there are people who claim to be Christians that shout out terrible things to people that they believe are evil.  These Christians give us a bad name.  I do not believe we win the lost for Him by being cruel.  Jesus was kind, gentle and loving to those who walked in sin.  He tried to teach those who thought they were righteous but they were the ones that ultimately rejected Him and placed Him on the cross.  Yet, today we have righteous people trying to select a verdict and punishment for their sins.  Is this what our Savior wants us to do?  I have a hard time supporting their cause but I also have a difficult time condemning their existence, that is God’s choice not mine.  I am so glad that I do not have to make that decision. 

As Christians, we need to be kind but not blind to those who are defiling God.  We need to keep our distance so that we do not fall into their trap.  So often times people want to say that Jesus was kind but they forget the part of His power that pronounces judgment on the ungodly.  We also need to remember that their actions are not the way God intended for mankind to act. 

We need to be true to our One True God and walk in His steps, not theirs.  Are they a lost cause?  Has God already written them off?  Those are questions that are not ours to answer.  We just need to hold true to Him, walk in His path, seek Him daily and truly know the God we serve.  Truly know Jesus and walk in His path.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

He is Worthy

Psalm 135 English Standard Version (ESV)

135 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
    give praise, O servants of the Lord,

2 who stand in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God!

3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing to his name, for it is pleasant![a]

4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel as his own possession.

5 For I know that the Lord is great,
    and that our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and all deeps.

7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
    who makes lightnings for the rain
    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    both of man and of beast;

9 who in your midst, O Egypt,
    sent signs and wonders
    against Pharaoh and all his servants;

10 who struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings,

11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    and Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,

12 and gave their land as a heritage,
    a heritage to his people Israel.

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
    your renown,[b] O Lord, throughout all ages.

14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.

16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
    they have eyes, but do not see;

17 they have ears, but do not hear,
    nor is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them become like them,
    so do all who trust in them.

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
    O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!

20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
    You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!

21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
    he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+135&version=ESV

We do have One Magnificent God!  He is the creator and destroyer of ALL things.  I think so many times we forget His power unless we want or need something.  We begin to lean on those things that bring pleasure in life rather than remembering that He is the One we should give our praise.  Many of us can shake our heads at people who bow down to worthless idols, and not understand why they choose to worship a chunk of gold rather than One true God.  However, we seem to forget that we do much the same thing when we choose to not worship God.  We may not bow down to a god but we busy ourselves with life rather than giving Him our all.

The past couple of weeks I have been on vacation and sick.  It was very difficult for me to get up early to write my blog.  While on vacation though I saw some beautiful creations that our God made.  I witnessed with my own eyes the beauty He created and I praised Him for that. Yet, I  didn’t devote my quiet time to be alone with Him.  We find so many more treasures in life when we spend time in the Word rather than so many other activities that can distract us from being with Him. I am thankful that I am feeling better and able to get up and read and write with a semi clear mind!

As you seek Him today, may you find that He is the One True God the only One worthy of our praise.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Beware

Jude 1:1-4

English Standard Version (ESV)

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Judgment on False Teachers

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A+1-4&version=ESV)

Jude, the brother of James was also the ½ brother of Jesus but as we see here, he equates himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James.  He exemplifies how we should identify ourselves to Christ as well.  He could have very easily said that he was the ½ brother of Jesus and left James out of the picture, but he does not, why?  For the same reason we need to claim being servants and not merely friends.  It is true Jesus is our friend, the friend of sinners, but if we see Him merely as a friend we tend to not see His majesty but rather as an equal.  As we read further in this short book we will see how James truly sees Jesus.

In the second portion of the scripture for today,  Jude is warning the Christian to beware of the ungodly people who try to make themselves look godly by perverting the Gospel into something that brings them gain rather than giving Jesus Christ the glory.  In other words everything they say and do is for themselves and not for the glory of our Lord and Savior.

As you seek Him today and then go out into this world, remember that what you do should bring Him glory.  Anything you think, say, or do should be pleasing to the One we serve.  Watch out for those who try to tell you differently.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila