YEar 2 Day 318

Year 2 Day 318 


Pray (ACts)


Read - Jude 1v1-2


Message - Scott Woodburn
Jude has told us that he is the brother of James and a servant of Christ and now he tells us who it is that he is writing to. Jude speaks “to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:” This is a delightful description of the Christian. Followers of Jesus are called, loved and kept.


As a child if I couldn’t hear my mother’s call as she guldered from the front step of our house then I was obviously too far away. Practically speaking that allowed me a two street radius for all my activities - any further would lead me into trouble.


There are many who hear the call of the Gospel on a weekly basis but it is only the Christian who will hear the inner call of God. The outward call of the Gospel goes out loudly and clearly to all with a challenge to repent and believe. Yet most ignore the call and reject Christ. The Christian is caused to be born again by the working of the Holy Spirit and they are enabled to hear the inner call of the Gospel. For the Believer this call is irresistible. They will hear it and believe it. The Christian is called.


The Christian is also one of the beloved of God. Paul tells us that even when we were dead in sin, God made us alive in Christ. This wasn’t a favour that the Lord owed us. It wasn’t because He didn’t want heaven without us. God made us alive in Christ because of His great love for us (Ephesians 2v4-5). Can you imagine the scale of God’s love for you? You may be hated in this world. Your husband may have walked out on you. Your parents may be disappointed with you. But as far as the Lord is concerned, He loves and adores you. The Christian is beloved.


Additionally, Jude tells us that the Christian is kept for Jesus. Life will be difficult and as we journey through it we will have ups and downs. But as far as the Christian is concerned they will be kept to the end. Not a single child of God will slip through His fingers. Jesus would say that “all that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” (John 6v37-39) The Christian is kept and will be raised up on the last day.


There is much in Jude which will cause us to scratch our heads but these opening verses are pure honey. To every child of God, to every person who has received Christ by faith, to every single Christian, the voice of God rings out with a reminder of your status in Christ. You are called, beloved and kept and today’s troubles will not rob you of any of that.


Therefore, to the church of Jesus Christ, may mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q75 What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbor’s, wealth, or outward estate.
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