Hello:
Book of Jude Challenge – Day 1 – Jude 1 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)
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.[f]
Doxology
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:17-25)
Many theologians call the Book of Acts, “The Acts of the Spirit.” I used to agree with their point, but during our last challenge, our twenty eight days of reading and meditating on the Book of Acts, I realized that the book is rightly called, “The Acts of the Apostles.” The Book of Acts ended in AD 60. But the Holy Spirit is still acting.
Every church should have their own book called,” The Acts of the Christians of [ put your church’s name here].” In that Book the love of the people for each other would be recorded. Their commitment to be led by the Holy Spirit in all their decisions would be recorded for the next generation. To paraphrase James 5:17, “The apostles were human beings like us”, so the Holy Spirit can act, and is willing to act through us.
Jude gives us one of the guaranteed steps to follow in order that we may have our own Book of Acts. “But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:17).” Not only we must pray, but we must “Pray in the Holy Spirit.” Don’t trust yourself, trust the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord richly bless you!
