HIGHLIGHT
Jude 20–21 (ESV): 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
EXPLAIN
Jude wanted to write the believers about salvation, but found it necessary instead to urge the believers to stay true to Jesus. Certain people had crept into the churches unnoticed who were perverting God’s grace.
Jude then wrote very descriptively of these people’s error, using illustrations from the past to picture their sin, error, and coming judgment.
Jude reminded the believers that this was prophesied to occur, and so he encouraged them to build themselves up in the faith.
APPLY
As followers of Jesus, our focus should be on growing in the faith, praying, and loving God and others, waiting hopefully for Christ’s return.
The question is then: am I growing in my faith? Am I careful to pray? Is my character becoming ever more noted for love? Am I living for a future in Heaven, or for this world only?
RESPOND
Heavenly Father, help me to continue in these essentials of the faith so that I might not be distracted or deceived, but rather be built up in you. Amen.