Life Lessons From Jude - Service (cont'd)

Jude illustrates acts of service for a believer towards an unbeliever by saying that a believer should be merciful towards those who doubt. Mercy is simply showing compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or not giving someone what they deserve. It is easy to become very critical/judgmental toward someone who doubts. Especially if they doubt something that you are convinced is very true. For example, when someone doubts God’s gift of Salvation.

Luke 6:36 (NIV)

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Instead of being critical or judgmental, you will be moved with compassion towards them and begin sharing the love of God with them. By so doing, you will be emulating Christ in your actions.

Jude further teaches us to save some, by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. By bringing the message of salvation to them, that is how we snatch them from the flames of hell. The message of salvation can cause them to re-evaluate their belief system and now chose to follow Christ. Tell them about the following scriptures and more;

John 3:16-17 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 10:9 (NIV)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Life Lessons From Jude - Service

Jude 1:22-23 (TLB)

Try to help those who argue against you. Be merciful to those who doubt. Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners.

In these verses, Jude is teaching us how to be of service to others. He illustrates acts of service for a believer towards an unbeliever in the following ways;

·       Help those who argue against you (vs 22a)

·       Be merciful to those who doubt (vs 22b)

·       Save some, by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself (vs 23a)

·       Help others find the Lord by being kind to them (vs 23b)

·       Hate sin, every trace of it; be merciful to sinners (vs 23c)

How can we help those who argue against us?

2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NIV)

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Emphasis Mine

Why wouldn’t you argue? Because it leads to quarrels.

Proverbs 20:3 (NIV)

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.

It becomes a ripple-effect because arguments lead to quarreling.

Jude is illustrating an act of service here by teaching us that we should help those who argue against us.

Another practical way of helping those who argue against us is by you physically walking away from the environment. This action will help prevent you from saying things or getting involved in an ungodly action.  Amen!