JUDE: WEEK 1 DAY 1

Jude 1:1-4

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.

Have you ever watched one of those home improvement shows, where they think they only need to repaint, but then discover that there is a huge problem behind the wall threatening to destroy the whole house? Jude started out thinking he was going to write a long letter exploring their shared faith, only to discover a much more urgent and dangerous problem. The church was under the sway of false teaching by people who had snuck into positions of influence.

This reminds me of an important practice in the daily life of a Christian. When our priorities are  God’s, we must live with open hands. Perhaps we think we are meeting with a co-worker about a project, but find that they are in desperate need of a friend; someone to pray for them. Maybe we think our child needs a stern talk about their poor math grades, but if we look deeper we realize they are suffering from a debilitating addiction to social media. Or maybe you have a list of “to do's" ready to go, and the Holy Spirit nudges you to pick up the phone and check-in on someone instead. 

We must be obedient to God’s plan and His timing. Ask Him: “God, how do you want me to start my day?”