Eternity 141 - Hey Jude! (Jude 1:1-2 NKJV) Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: {2} Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. For the next few days we will study this tiny epistle by Jude, the brother of James. Jude was not only the brother of James, but the brother of Jesus! (Matthew 13:55 NKJV) "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? The eldest after Jesus was James, who became a major figure in the New Testament church and the author of the epistle by that name. The youngest brother of Jesus, Jude, writes this epistle. Despite being the youngest brother of Jesus Jude calls himself " a bond-servant of Jesus Christ" and disavows that any earthly relationship makes him more special as a believer. He does not see himself as anything different from Paul or Silas or the other servants of God who were faithful. He refuses to drop names or to pull rank. This is a commendable example to us! We cannot say "I am the pastor's eldest son therefore.." or " I am the deacon's wife therefore..." . We must stand on our own merits. We must each humbly see ourselves as "bondservants" of the Lord. Called..sanctified...preserved... the first two actions come from God the Father. We are called by the Father: (John 6:44 NKJV) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. Then we are sanctified by the will of God the Father (in other places we are sanctified in Christ, and by the Spirit : (John 17:17 NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In these two actions God first calls us to Himself and then sets us in a holy place. He makes us a holy person set apart for Himself and belonging to a royal priesthood, a chosen possession, a people belonging to God. (1 Peter 2:5,9) He loves us, chooses us then says very clearly that we are special and different, set apart eternally for divine fellowship and holy purposes. Lest we tremble, feel unworthy and worry that we will lose our privileged position Jude writes "and preserved in Jesus Christ". Christ is the place of protection. In Him we are spiritually secure. In Him there is no condemnation for those who walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:1,2). In Him is the power of the indwelling Spirit of God and the wisdom, sanctification and redemption that keeps us safe. ( 1 Cor 1:30). In Christ we are protected with an armour that comes from God (Ephesians 6:10-18) which guards us against spiritual treachery and assaults. In Him the deceptions of the false teachers, the lies of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-4) and the roaring lion that is Satan can be resisted and overcome. Christ is our rock and our refuge and as we abide in Him we know great joy and peace. (John 15:1-7) "Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." Not just added - but multiplied; two times two times two etc. An exponential abounding in the grace of God. This comes from the Abrahamic covenant (Hebrews 6:13-14 NKJV) For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, {14} saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." (See Galatians chaps 3 & 4 for how Christians inherit the blessings of Abraham). God wants ever increasing multiplying blessings for us. Our blessings multiply when we heed God's Word. (Mark 4:24-25 NKJV) Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. {25} "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." As we listen carefully to God's Word then "more will be given" and then more still, in continual spiritual growth. Now the three things Jude wants most for his readers are "mercy, peace and love". He is not wishing for the merely material but for the deeply spiritual things that operate at the ground of our being and make the whole rest of our life function well. Without mercy we are forever under condemnation and disapproval, wracked by uncertainty and inferiority, insecure about our worth and locked into proving ourselves. Mercy allows us to rest in grace and accept our faults. Mercy allows us to be free from the inner critic and perfectionism and frees us into the joy of being normal. Peace is the result of mercy, its the state of the unruffled soul that is quieted before God and at rest with eternal things and its own value. A soul that has ceased clattering, striving and being anxious and which rests in the certain love of a Sovereign God. Love is what fills the soul of the saint and overflows from his or her life. Its the benevolent, practical, spiritual work from a person who is truly connected to the grace of God. With mercy, peace and love we are made strong on our inner selves so we can face work, life, and the daily tasks before us. With mercy, peace and love we become functional persons and able to relate well and move through life with wisdom and confidence. Without mercy, peace and love we are driven, restless and dry. Lets ask God to nourish our inner self with these three things - right now! Blessings in Him, John Edmiston Asian Internet Bible Institute http://www.aibi.ph/ Free Online Bible And Ministry Training