Greetings, dear ones…
…on a day late for commenting on the reading for April 30—the little letter of Jude. I hope to get current before this first day of May is history.
Have a great day. Ray.
Wow! As I read this little letter by Jude in The Passion Translation I exclaimed to myself as though to Jude, “Jude! Jude! What a dude! Oh so short—but such good food!” I don’t always talk to myself in rhyme, but I did this time! (Hey!—that rhymes!)
The great devotional and practical point for me to glean from this great doxology of verses 24 and 25 is that there is absolutely no legitimate reason for anyone embracing the Biblical Gospel to stumble into sin. We can be kept from falling if we really want to be. The key, of course, is a HEART AFTER GOD. And I believe that fundamental thesis is reaffirmed in the outstanding capsule of advice that Jude puts forth in verses 20 and 21—“But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit. Fasten your hearts to the love of God and receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us eternal life.” (The Passion Translation)
“…praying every moment in the Spirit” carries the primary meaning for me the idea of constant spiritual fellowship between a finite believer and his infinite Maker/Savior—made possible by His gracious spiritual provision—by the medium of His Spirit Word. It hints of the exclamation David makes in Psalm 1 that the spiritually blessed man finds his “delight in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2, KJV). The great spiritual value of this exercise is that one is thereby protected and prevented from “stumbling into sin.” David further testifies concerning this dynamic, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11, KJV).