SAFE IN THE CARE OF JESUS
“This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.” Jude 1-2 NLT
As Jude begins his letter – his respect for Jesus as Messiah and Lord is clear, as he calls himself a slave or a bondservant of Jesus, while indicating James is his brother. Now, Jude did not always believe his brother Jesus was Lord and Savior, as John 7:5 NLT tells us “Even his brothers didn’t believe in him.” Now his brothers actually sort of mocked him when it came time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, saying, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” John 7:3-4 NLT.
I love how Jesus replied to his brothers – he said, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival because my time has not yet come” – John 7:6-8 NLT
Therefore, we know Jude has his own conversion story that the Bible doesn’t clearly reveal, but what we do know is he came to believe Jesus, his brother, is the Messiah – the way the truth and the life, thus the only way to God the Father, and in his book Jude emphasizes truth versus error, calling out false doctrines, while calling Christians to defend Christianity and to remain faithful to Jesus Christ.
Remain best friends with Jesus.
Doctrine dictates behavior. Thus, if people follow a false doctrine, devoid of Jesus Christ and truth, people begin behaving in carnal ways believing it is fine, however their carnality destroys their relationship with Jesus and others and their end is eternal death.
Jude assures the Christians he is writing to, which includes us today, that we are called by God the Father – we are called with a purpose.
Sometimes – that’s enough, right. Knowing God’s focus is on us and with His calling, He provides the strength and ability to perform it.
Jude also reassures Christians of God’s love – very much like his brother Jesus, who shared, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” – John 3:16.
God loves you.
And He keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the perfect shepherd. He knows His sheep; He loves His sheep. He protects and defends His sheep. He laid down His life for His sheep so that we, who are being made holy, would be made perfect and complete by His one offering – Hebrews 10:14. Nothing happens in our life without His knowing.
It's the call to remain close to Jesus, sensitive to His voice – because one act of His protective care is when He burdens our hearts to either go in a direction or to not go in a direction. To do this, or not to do this. It’s that check on the heart. He doesn’t want us suffering every injustice. He will warn us to protect us.
Jude concludes his introduction with “May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.”
Jude’s heart is soft and sensitive desiring Christian believers to experience God’s mercy, which is His absolute compassion, God’s peace that guards our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus, and His agape love that is never changing.
Do we have this heart for other Christian believers? Do we desire Christians to be assured of God’s love, to know God’s protection – safe in the care of Jesus – to know His mercy, and peace?
God has no favorites – He has endless resources and loves us all with perfect love.
Prayer: Abba, thank You for Your perfect love. May we experience even more of your mercy, peace, and love today as we shine the light of Jesus Christ where You have placed us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
