This post is Day 17 in a series of studies about “Jude”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Jude – Day 17

In describing the people we have looked at during the last 4 days, Jude sums them up with open criticism. These are people in church gatherings that he was speaking about! I find it also quite scary that these things are going on today in much of the worldwide church.

Jude 12

These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm – shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted – twice dead.

The Thought

In describing the people from history that we have looked at during the last 4 days, Jude sums them up with open criticism. These are people in church gatherings that he was speaking about! How sad! I find it also quite scary that these things are going on today in much (but definitely not all) of the worldwide church.

God’s desire from the beginning of time has been to have a “holy people”, Jesus’ disciples understood that and the letters we have in the Bible from those first followers echo that call for holiness. Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written “Be Holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Peter is quoting from Deuteronomy 7:6. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.

The Greek and Hebrew words for “holy” mean “different” or “set apart” and today those “chosen people” are the Christians in God’s world wide church. We must take note of what He says about the early church, and be careful to live “holy” lives and be witnesses for Him wherever He places us.

Being “holy” does not mean becoming a pastor or priest or retreating to a religious order, although it may do. It means living a life as a good witness for Him. Being honest, generous, kind and forgiving. It means taking Jesus as our example and doing what He asks us to do.

Action

Spend some time today asking Jesus what He wants you to do.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, stay close to Him.