As I get ready to embark on 2014 it is going to be a New Year in a great many ways I hope. I always love the New Year, a clean sheet of paper in a new notebook mentality where anything is possible! At years end I always desire to be, though I seldom feel that I am, closer to the Lord and more determined to live out His will for my life. I desire to not only read His Word, but to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15). God has so generously given me this platform, I really don’t desire to fall off of it, I’ll graciously step down should that be His will. A platform is not meant to be viewed as a pedestal, but more so an individual given the opportunity to elevate Christ. I should never be “lifted up” but rather I should be lifting up Christ. Some have that wrong. Jude had it right.
Jude 1-3~ Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude, not only a servant of Christ, although he held that in the highest esteem, and a brother to James (showing piety to family), but he too was a brother to Christ. He grew up in the same house with the same Momma and no doubt grew up witnessing his Brother’s miracles first hand. I have to wonder if at times there wouldn’t have been contention between them seeing that Mary worshipped Jesus, knowing Who He was. What must His brothers have thought? Or maybe they too knew in their hearts very young that Jesus was not just an ordinary child, we’re not given that insight, only speculation which can be wrong, and so I digress. But here in this place we find Jude all grown up. There is no animosity toward his Brother, only reverence.
He is Called
Just as those of us who are saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus have been; each of us are called to a purpose. Contrary to popular belief you were not called to take up space in a pew. Sunday morning from 11 a.m. to 12 noon is not service, it’s worship; or it should be. And you should be desirous of that time for all Christ does for you the rest of the week. The service to which you are called is the rest of the week, on the job or in the home, on vacation or on the internet you are called to be a servant of Jesus Christ as was Jude. What you’re doing should in some way be pointing back to Him and lived out in humility. Jude was proud of his family, he loved his career, but He served Christ.
He is Concerned
He desired mercy, peace and love for his brothers and sisters in Christ for which he considered them an equal (common salvation). Every one of us get saved in the same manner. We may have traveled a different path to get there but the final journey to salvation is the same. We admit we’re a sinner and deserve Hell, we believe He was born of a virgin and died upon the cross to pay for our sins, and we confess He is Lord and the only worthy sacrifice. It is at that point, with Him living in us, that our servant’s heart should be concerned for our brothers and sisters wellbeing, praying mercy, peace and love be multiplied. Are you praying for your fellow servants?
He is a Contender
I didn’t watch the movie “On the Waterfront” but most of us know Marlon Brando’s quote “I could have been a contender…” and we even know the manner of which he said it. Jude was a contender and so he advises us to be as well. It’s going to be a fight, we know this from past experience. Any time we step out and make a decision I’m going to do more for the Lord, Satan counterattacks, it’s a given. I don’t want to say “I could have been a contender in 2014.” I want to be a contender for the faith, I want to do more! Will you join me?
Please begin by praying for this ministry, that the Lord open doors and I go through only those He opens. Thank you! in advance.
