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!

Life Lessons From Jude - Boundaries of Love

Jude 1:21 (TLB)

Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you.

Emphasis Mine

The word “boundary” has a negative connotation in our society today because it comes across as restricting, limiting, etc. However, I’ll like us to take a closer look at this word from a different perspective. How do we stay within the boundaries of God’s love?  We are told in scripture that God is Love (1 John 4:8b (NIV)). Scriptures also tell us that love is patient; love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4(NIV)). Therefore, we ought to keep ourselves in God (by keeping yourselves in God, you are in other words keeping yourselves within His approved standards).

It takes a conscious effort to do so, otherwise, we will stray out of the established boundaries.

John 14:21a (NIV)

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.

It suffices to say here that if you do not keep God’s commandments, you do not love Him. And we can agree that this action takes you out of the boundaries of God’s love. The only time when we can expect to receive His blessings is when we walk in obedience to Him - When you keep His commandants.

Be purposeful and knowledgeable about this Love. Be consistent and persistent in loving. Above all, live in obedience.

Life Lessons From Jude - Build

When we hear the word “build”, we immediately think about a house or an ongoing project. Let’s look at the word from a different perspective.

Jude 1:20 (TLB)

But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

Emphasis Mine

There are many ways we can choose to build our lives. Yet, Jude is suggesting to us in his epistle the very sure way to do so. That is when we build upon the foundation of our most holy faith. (This building is guaranteed to be stable, steadfast and productive). He is suggesting that we build upon the gift of God’s faith to us. In this case, saving faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Emphasis Mine

Without God’s gift of saving faith, we will not have the Holy Spirit in us who teaches us how to pray. It is important because it is through praying in tongues that we build up our lives. It is impossible to have your life build without the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

So, by implication, for you to even attempt building your life,

·       First, you must be saved

·       You need to acknowledge your salvation as the foundation for your building

·       You need to allow yourself to be taught by the Holy Spirit – he is the best teacher.

One thing is certain when you build your life with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can guarantee that your life will stand firm. For the glory of the Lord. Amen!

John 14:16 (NKJV)

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.

Emphasis Mine

Life Lessons From Jude – Readiness

A sense of readiness is perceived as we read through the Epistle of Jude. Readiness to talk about the Word of God. As soon as Jude recognized a problem in the Christian community, he immediately began talking to them about the Word of God.

What is your approach when it comes to resolving issues that you identify? Are you most ready to talk about your knowledge about the situation or are you most ready to say what scriptures have to say about the situation?

After identifying the problem, he readily brought to their attention the acts of God, reminding them of God’s character (Jude 1:5-7).

In summary, he told them that the Lord is a savior, the Lord is a just God, the Lord is a jealous God, and there is punishment for sinners who will not repent. Your ability to not only sound positive but Spirit led can only be made possible when you spend 1:1 time fellowship with the Father. Your personal bible study lifestyle will cause your readiness in sharing the Word, to be effortless.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How ready are you to divide the Word of truth? You can only be as ready as your study life. Amen!

Life Lessons From Jude – Responsibility

It takes a responsible person to care about the issues and concerns of others. Jude was that kind of person. He cared so much about the state of being, the welfare and more of the Christians. So, in writing his epistle, he began identifying and analyzing the problems that were ongoing; also providing possible solutions.

He identified that false teachers had slipped into the Christian community (Jude 1:4-11 (NIV)) and he further provided the characteristics of the false teachers.

In summary, these are the characteristics;

·       People who live immoral lives

·       People who defile authority

·       People who abuse celestial beings

·       People who mock and curse anything they do not understand

·       People who do whatever they feel like, there by destroying their soul

·       People who tell others that, after becoming Christians, they can do as they like without fear of punishment

·       People who kill their brothers

·       People who will do anything for money

·       People who will disobey God

As a responsible person, Jude went ahead to bring full awareness to the Christian community of who their God is by expounding on the acts of God and the character of God. He even provided possible ways on how to get people to salvation. He encouraged the Christians to stay within the boundaries of God’s love even as they build themselves up in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)). It takes a responsible person to sharpen another. Jude was that kind of person. Let’s learn from Jude by taking full ownership and responsibility for the things that come our way. Giving them full attention and awareness.

My encouragement to you is in accordance with 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NV) - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

In conclusion - Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act (Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)).

Life Lessons From Jude – Companionship

Jude, in his epistle, comes across as someone who is mindful about his company. Otherwise, he would not have overwhelmed his epistle with words of caution, words of prevention and wisdom on how to deal with false teachers. So, how important is your companionship? Who do you keep company with? Do you choose your companions on purpose? Or do you let yourself mingle and associate with everybody? The Word of God is very keen about companionship. Jesus chose the people he kept company with?

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Do not be misled: “Bad Company corrupts good character.”

This was a very challenging season for the Christians and Jude recognized that. So, he even went ahead to encourage the Christians on how to maintain their bond and relationships by building themselves up in the Holy Spirit. He further advised the Christians to win the unbelievers to the Lord.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in situations whereby it seems like we are obligated to keep certain companionships by reason of our jobs. In such situations, it is imperative to not allow ourselves to be trapped by their ungodly standards. Rather, remain in prayers and let the light of Christ in you shine so bright such that you win the unbelievers over to Christ

Life Lessons From Jude - Vigilance

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Emphasis Mine

Oxford definition of vigilant – Keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulty (ies).

In this case, there was ongoing danger – Jude 1:4a and he further goes on to tell us the characteristics of the men.

Jude 1:4 (NKJV)

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Characteristics of the false teachers;

·       Men marked for condemnation long ago

·       Ungodly men

·       Men who say God’s grace permits us to live immoral lives

·       Men who have denied Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior

As you journey through life, it is not an excuse to be unvigilant. If you lose sight of where you are heading, you will head for danger real quickly.  My question to you is this – what are the characteristics of the people you have allowed to creep into your life unnoticed? What are they? Who are they? Can you identify them? Can you tell when the atmosphere of your life changes? It takes a vigilant person to identify those specifics.

What about the things you permit to get in through the gates of your life – like your eye gate, ear gate, mouth gate, mind gate, etc? My encouragement to you is this, live life purposefully and you will enjoy the benefits while on earth for the glory of the Lord. Amen.