That Little Book of Jude

That Little Book of Jude...one mighty chapter... offered by Doug Blair, Waterloo ON, 2020

Contend for the Faith He said it, Jude One chapter’s worth And noble did it seem To take up arms for doctrine’s sake With unity the dream So can’t you just believe like me For long I studied firm Quite clear the package seemingly But you friend, make me squirm.

I know you name the name of Christ I know you love the Cross I know you lean on Spirit’s help I know you suffer loss For clinging to your closest Friend When all the world turns sour You trust the blood, a cleansing flood You know forgiveness’ power.

That is enough to bind the cords I put away my blade I’m here for you, a Brother true Forgive the rift pride made.

And timely this, your friendly call To me, deluded know­it­all.

To Hit the Right Balance

There can be revelation So new they want to shout It seems to liven Sundays And blow the cobwebs out.

And someone said Lord speaketh In new ways to this age.

As if the old lacked vigour And had to yield the stage.

But Jude holds up a caution.

He watched as error grew

And saw strange men in love feasts No telling what they’d do.

The carnal took right over The lusts and silly talk The hiding from repentance The doctrines sadly mocked.

And Spirit gives the warning A picture all should dread How quickened eyes again despise As fruitless trees “twice dead”.

(Jude 1: 12)

Kept for Jesus Christ

A worthy thought in Our Daily Walk by F. B. Meyer) Jude 1 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

The word "keep" rings like a refrain throughout this letter. It suggests a power which originates in the Divine will and operates through the Holy Spirit's energy within us. Behind our willing and working, our choosing

and electing; behind all the influences that are brought to bear upon us, there is a gracious and Divine movement, in virtue of which we are being "kept for Jesus Christ.'" Our spirit is being kept for His Spirit to tenant it; our soul is being kept that His mind may energize it; our heart is being kept as the bowl of a fountain that His love may flow in and out; our imagination and fancy are being kept, that He may utilize them as He did Bunyan and Rutherford; our body is being kept that He may have the use of its members--a vessel meet for the Master's use! Let us realize how much Christ needs each one of us, and how much we shall miss if we neutralize the very purpose for which we were born and sent into the world.

Do not presume on the Divine keeping power, for there is always the dread possibility of neutralizing it. Keep yourselves therefore in the love of God! Have you the light? Follow the gleam! Are you in mid-current?

Do not get turned off into a back eddy! Are you being used by God? Keep under your body and bring it into subjection, lest after having preached to others you may yourself be rejected.

There is One who is able to keep us from stumbling, not only from within, by a garrison, but from without, by sentries which keep watch and ward. We are greater than worlds or suns, greater than time or space, greater than the universe in which we are found, as the child is greater than the royal palace, because the Lord hath need of us. We are "'kept for Jesus Christ"; let us not be unmindful or ungrateful, for, throughout the ages, this prayer never ceases to rise from the heart of our Redeemer: "I pray, not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil."

PRAYER We thank Thee, Heavenly Father, that Thou hast called us into the fellowship of Thy Son. Keep us by Thy mighty power through faith unto Thy salvation and service. AMEN.

This Word May 25, 2009

I remember a devotional concerning two men in the ministry who had graduated from the same seminary and gone to preach in far distant parts of the country.

After years, a class reunion brought them into contact and they shared wonderful days getting re­acquainted. In discussing the trials and victories at their respective posts it became apparent that they had each experienced significant life crises in the same week years before. They could now look back with thanksgiving and a sense that the "dark tunnels" ultimately brought richness to their lives and service for others (2 Corinthians 1:6).

They related how particular strength had come for the trial from a single verse of scripture. In fact, it was the same verse for each of them, although the challenging circumstances were very different.

What a living Word compels us, counsels us, comforts us! I remember the children's toy, the kaleidoscope. It looked like a telescope but it contained beautiful fragments of coloured glass which would change their pattern as the toy was twisted.

Did not these two pastors experience God's Word "living for them" in similar fashion?

LABELS: DEVOTIONAL KEPT BY GOD SPIRITUAL CURRENCY WORD OF LIFE

Our Yardstick May 28, 2010 Jude: 3Beloved, 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.

In this passage Jude, the half­brother of Jesus, is suggesting that there is a core of Gospel truth which is to be considered as permanent, inviolate and worth our efforts to defend in the face of New Thought.

In a group discussion with several men the other night, certain were heard to be saying that just as soon as they thought they had firmly understood some concept of scripture, the Holy Spirit would bring along new light and a new application. Others warned that this might lead to a defeatist attitude wherein we might lament, "Who can ever really understand the Word of God?" But we have been told elsewhere that we will be rewarded with revelation if we seek Him diligently with our entire heart. I must believe that a certain core of doctrine remains firmly and reliably in place. Such a suggestion flies in the face of post­modernist thought which challenges all absolutes and suggests that rules or doctrines divide and promote a certain exclusiveness

or "clique­ishness". The so­called Emerging Church Movement cries out against such rules.

Listen to what Paul had to say to Timothy: 1 Timothy 4: 16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

One of the men piped up, "OK, so in twenty­five words or less, what is this common salvation?" Tough question. Here are a few suggestions: 2 Corinthians 5: 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Titus 2: 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 John 2: 28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.