Today is election day in the USA. I will be voting today. I try to vote for the person who has good moral character first and usually along the party line I generally vote for second. May the best person win.
I saw on facebook that people are posting what they are thankful for 40 days before Thanksgiving. I'm not sure which day it started, but thought I would try to share what I am thankful for daily. Today - I am thankful that in our country anyone who is a citizen can vote. No strings attached.
Jude is only one chapter long, and it will take us just two days to read this book. Then we will read Daniel then Revelations. I don't know much about prophecy so these will be tough books for me to read through. But we will read through and learn what God has to say.
Some facts about Jude. Jude - the author - is a half brother of Jesus. The purpose of this book is to warn of false teachers, and apostasy. Apostasy is turning from God's truth and follow false teachings. False teaching leads followers away from Christ.
Verse 1. Jude begins with a salutation. Jude is the half brother of Christ but more importantly he is a follower of Christ. Jude is short for Judas, which was a fairly common name in Jesus' day. After Judas betrayed Christ many went with the nickname Jude to distance themselves from the person Judas. One commentary I read said Jude didn't believe Jesus was the messiah until after his resurrection. Interesting!
Verse 2 Jude offers peace mercy and love to all of us who read this, in abundance.
Verse 3 Jude is writing to defend our faith. We have been saved now we need to hold on to our faith and we also need to support the church - believers in Christ. Jude was going to write about our salvation but felt compelled to write about defending our faith.
Verse 4 Much like 2 Peter that we just finished reading, Jude begins his warning about ungodly men who say it is alright to live immoral lives and do not believe Jesus is Lord.
Verse 5 Jude reiterates this by saying God rescued the Jews from Egypt and later punished those who did not remain faithful.
Verse 6 Jude writes about the angels who fell away from God. They are in darkness waiting for judgement.
Verse 7 Next Jude writes about Sodom and Gomorrah - these cities were destroyed because of all their sinful behavior. Their sins were sexual immorality and perversion.
Verse 8 - continues certain people who defy authority and live according to their dreams. They speak evil towards - NIV uses the word dignitaries and NLV uses the word supernatural beings. I wonder if it means they think of themselves as a god and turn their back at God - one who is more powerful than them.
Verse 9 this verse I do not understand. Jude talks about the angel Micheal and the devil as they argue about Moses' body. Even Michael doesn't blaspheme the devil. He asks the Lord to rebuke the devil. Maybe the point here is even the angels dare not utter any words against God.
Verse 10 This somewhat explains verse 9. These certain evil people don't understand what they are saying, they are like animals that have know conscience. Their evil thoughts and deeds will destroy them.
Verse 11 Jude comments on the sorrow evil people will encounter - and he mentions Cain who kills his brother Abel, and Balaam. Balaam's story is in Numbers 22-25. Greed led to Balaam's demise. Last is Korah, a man who was jealous that he didn't have the priestly authority that Moses and Aaron had (Numbers 16). These old testament stories may mean nothing to us - but those in Jesus day knew these stories well. The point here is no matter where man comes from - a poor farmer or a rich man or a preacher, all can be evil.
Verse 12 -13 love feasts - Christians would come together for a meal - like a potluck today. Jude says these certain people come only to eat- stuff themselves full without any regard for others. The analogy of clouds is a good one. They float in the air blocking the sun and don't produce any life giving water. Their works will produce nothing
Verse 14-15 God will judge all of us. Some may not take this seriously but we should.
Verse 16 These certain people are not happy - they grumble and complain. When we are apart from God we lose joy and peace in life.
Father God - these are sobering words today. May we avoid certain people who will steer us from you, if we cannot bring them to you. Please protect us from falling away from you Lord. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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