Loved By The Father: Kept By The Son

"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life" (Jude 1: 20-21)
  
I hate waiting, How about You? When I left the military I vowed to never again stand in a line. Don't go to the DMV, there I broke my vow. At the grocery store, I broke my vow. So much for that vow. I guess I am remanded to line standing. I read the tabloids, now there is some wisdom! I think I read about a woman who delivered a 20 ton diesel truck and didn't even know she was pregnant. Ha! Silliness, but what do you do when waiting in a line? What to do while waiting? Here is a novel idea, pray, I pray that God will save me from those tabloids. I checked myself, I'm not pregnant, and I don't see any diesel smoke, so I guess my prayers are working. I hate waiting!

Jude says that we are to wait for that mercy which means eternal life. The Greek word for wait in this passage is (prosdechomenoi) it means to watch, to anticipate, to look for, be in expectation. I understand that type of waiting, it is sort of like, well, when I was 16 and knew my girlfriend was coming over to see me. I cleaned up my room, myself, Aqua Velva, pomade for my flattop with wings, and a little curl on my forehead, in full anticipation, nervous, could hardly wait. Well something better is being offered; mercy, and eternal life. This isn't a date night, a high school girlfriend, one among many, it is God who has given us glimpses of the future He has in store for us. An eternal date night. While we eagerly wait, we have this promise: "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (vss. 14-15) 

 This Sunday, come before Him in true worship, bow down, and humble yourself before our Great and Glorious God who has come to bring us to Himself through the sacrifice of His son, so that we can be without fault, and with great joy. Look around the auditorium, (Sanctuary) realize those you see who are the ekklesia, they are our/your brothers and sisters. You and I will share eternity with them. While we wait we need to get to know them, not causally, deeply, they are just like you waiting, and needing your support as they face their struggles. It is with great joy that comes when we are doing God's work. Work within the Body of Believers, that is most needed, the unbelievers, well they can wait, family comes first, God will lead us to the other work. It is He that calls them, it is He that saves them, we need each other so that we can build each other up in the faith. 

It is this love, this work that removes religion from us, and true faith that changes peoples hearts will be demonstrated by what and how we care for one another. Love starts at home. 


Daily Prayer:

Father thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for my family, both my relatives and my eternal extended family. May you show me how I can be of assistance to my brothers and sisters. May the love I show them become the love I show the world. Help me make a difference, show the world your love.  Amen