Jude 1
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Daily Devotion
A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS
by Lana Lyman
Jude, verse 5, “Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful.”
This verse stood out to me in today’s reading. Israel is God’s chosen people and yet after rescuing them from their slavery, He ended up destroying those who were not found faithful to Him. God is a god of faithfulness and He requires the same from us.
“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful…..” Psalm 18:25
God is calling many in these last days to do a work for His Kingdom. Some have the misconception that everyone is called, but that’s not what Scripture tells us.
Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 We read that many are called—not all.
Paul later encourages us to “…live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
If we’ve been called, we must live a life worthy of that calling. Jesus spoke about those being called to follow him: “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
When God calls us, we are to abandon everything and follow Him. That means we leave the life we once knew and we never look back.
So we know many are called, but Scripture tells us only few are chosen. When Jesus walked the earth, he called many people to follow Him. However, He chose only 12 to be His disciples. These were men who proved themselves worthy of the Kingdom. Were they perfect? No—they had many flaws, but Jesus saw something special in them and spent His final years on earth teaching and training them for ministry. How are we chosen? We must prove ourselves worthy of Christ and His Kingdom.
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9
Once we pass the ranks of called and chosen, there’s one more requirement if we are to forever be with the Lord: we must be faithful.
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
It is not enough to declare our love and devotion to God, we must back it up with our actions.
“Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?” Proverbs 20:6
God requires faithfulness. I pray today that God would help us all to be faithful in all we do—the big things and the little things—because it matters! Our salvation is dependent on our faithfulness. I know when that day comes, I want to hear my Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant….enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21