Jude (HCSB)
Greeting
Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:
To those who are the called, loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.
2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Jude’s Purpose in Writing
3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. 4 For some men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
Apostates: Past and Present
5 Now I want to remind you, though you know all these things: The Lord first saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe; 6 and He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, the angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling. 7 In the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them committed sexual immorality and practiced perversions, just as angels did, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
8 Nevertheless, these dreamers likewise defile their flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme glorious ones. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when he was disputing with the Devil in a debate about Moses’ body, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people blaspheme anything they don’t understand. What they know by instinct like unreasoning animals—they destroy themselves with these things. 11 Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
The Apostates’ Doom
12 These are the ones who are like dangerous reefs at your love feasts. They feast with you, nurturing only themselves without fear. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead, pulled out by the roots; 13 wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever!
14 And Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied about them:
Look! The Lord comes with thousands of His holy ones
15 to execute judgment on all and to convict them
of all their ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way,
and of all the harsh things ungodly sinners
have said against Him.
16 These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 they told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.” 19 These people create divisions and are unbelievers, not having the Spirit.
Exhortation and Benediction
20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verse 4): Lord, please forgive me for taking advantage of Your amazing and never-ending grace for so long.
PROMISE (verse 21): You promise us that if we keep ourselves in Your love that we can expect Your mercy for eternal life.
ATTITUDE (verse 16): God, please help me to no longer be a "discontented grumbler" so that I may be able to always have a joyous and loving attitude like Jesus.
COMMAND (verses 22-23): You command us, Lord, to have mercy on the doubters, save those who need saving, and to have a cautious mercy towards others (cautious for our self-protection against the flesh).
EXAMPLE (verses 20-23): Lord, please help me to follow the example You give in the verses as a template for building up our faith and relationship with You. Help me to stay in Your word and to pray often. Help me to know, feel, and stay in the love of God. Help me to be merciful and offer grace to others. Help me to be more like Jesus.
*DAILY NOTE: Jude. Such a short book in the Bible, but so much power behind this brief message. So often I take advantage of God's grace and mercy, yet He continues to love me unconditionally. So often I continue to become irritable and "grumble" at things that are so small and minor, yet He continues to bless me with a constant washing of my sin. How amazing You are to have so much power to punish me if You so choose to do so, yet instead You show me so much unconditional grace, mercy and love. Thank you.
*GENERAL NOTE: I always "sandwich" my quiet time with God in prayer and do it in a location that I will not have any distractions so that I can be focused on my quiet time with God. Do not worry about how short or long your journal entries are for that day's quiet time. Just focus on the actual quiet time and relational conversation with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The journaling is an enhancement to your quiet time conversation with God, but also to allow you to reflect on things later as you can look back on your journal entries later when you do the chapters again in the future to see how you have grown. See the FAQ for more detail on how I do my quiet time.
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