12/24

Jude 1:20-21

²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Jude's short letter was a call to believers to contend for the faith that the apostles shared with them. False teachers crept into the church and distorted the message. Their motivation was sensuality and personal gain. God has a reservation for them in the place of eternal torment. The Day of Judgment will come.

To counter this destructive element that was distorting the message of Jesus, Jude told the believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith. We are built up through the Word of God that increases our faith. Don't slack off in the study of the Word and applying it to your life. Encourage one another with testimonies of what the Lord has done and is doing in your life. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us this is a way to edify ourselves (1 Corinthians 14:4, 15). Our old nature is always ready to step back into a leading role and take back control of our lives. Feed your spirit more faithfully than you do your body.

We are coming to the end of this devotional. What is your plan to continue meditating on the Word? Perhaps you might listen to a sermon online each morning (bible-sermons.org). Or you may want to start a study in the Bible on a particular topic. I can recommend the study Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. Preaching the Word commentaries are an excellent source of sermons. We are blessed with so many resources in our time. We need to use them to build ourselves up in the faith.

Remember: Keep growing in Christ so that you can discern what is of God and what is contrary to the Scriptures. Contend for the faith!