Daily Devotionals with Pastor Rod: Jude 24

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Don’t be Fearful, Be Joyful! (Jude 24-25 Part 2)

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

THE STUDY:

Yesterday we looked at the first thing Jude list of what God is able to do: keep us from stumbling. Today we will be looking at the second thing which is God’s ability to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. The presence of his glory refers to the day of judgment when all people will stand before God to give an account of their lives. Jude assures his readers that God is able to protect them from sin so they can stand before him blameless (amōmous). Amōmous was originally used to describe acceptable sacrifices (Heb 9:14). But it came to be used generally to describe moral purity. Peter uses this word to describe Jesus as the perfect sacrificial lamb (1 Pet 1:19). God’s ability to keep you from stumbling will be abundantly evident when believers stand before his throne blameless. As a result, the day of judgment will not be a time of fear or dread for believers. Because of “him who is able,” believers will celebrate that day with great joy.^{^[1]}

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

We walk away this morning with the understanding that Jesus was and is the prefect sacrificial lamb. It’s within this faith that believers can stand before God on the day of judgment with joy in their hearts and not fear.

APPLICATION:

Early on in my walk with Jesus I had come to an understanding that this whole Trinity of God looked something like a court room: God is the judge and Jesus is my defense lawyer. After spending many years in studying the scripture I have come to the conclusion, this analogy is wrong!

We will not be standing before God on judgment day! Our defense Lawyer will be the Holy Spirit and Christ will be the judge. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor. 5:10) We will be judged on what we have done since accepting Christ as our personal savior. Christ is the one who will present us to the Father. God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:16) If you think about it, this is how we want it to be.

Today, if Christ is Lord in your life don’t be fearful of the second coming, rejoice in it. But, if you have not accepted Christ as your personal savior then let fear be the motivation for you to turn your life over to the one who stands at the right hand of the Father for you: Christ! Don’t be fearful, be joyful!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

^{^[1]} Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (300). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

GOD IS ABLE! (Jude 24-25)

THE STUDY:

Jude's lengthy description and warning of the false teachers must have cast a dark and dreadful cloud over his readers. But his doxology lifts their attention to the triumphant One: To him who is able. The focus of the doxology is on God. Jude directs his readers’ attention to two things God is able to do. Today we will be looking at the first one.

The first thing God is able to do is keep you from stumbling. The theme of “keeping” is prominent throughout the letter. Jude expresses this in a positive and a negative way. Positively, Jude affirms that believers are “kept by Jesus Christ” (v 1). In response, believers must also “keep” themselves “in God’s love” (v 21). Negatively, Jude uses the same verb (tēreō) to underscore the certainty that God keeps sinners for judgment (vv 6, 13). In his doxology, Jude reiterates God’s positive keeping power with a new verb that affirms the power of God to keep (phylaxai: guard) believers from falling. This Greek word conveys the image of “standing guard,” kept in protective custody. Stumbling (aptaistous) refers to falling into sin (Jas 3:2).

The metaphor to keep you from stumbling is probably derived from the psalmist, who often describes the disasters that would befall believers if God did not prevent their feet from stumbling or slipping (Pss 38:16; 56:13; 66:9). God is powerful enough to protect Christians from falling into the sinful ways of the false teachers. God keeps them so that they may attain final salvation.^{^[1]}

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

We walk away with the understanding that “GOD IS ABLE!” He is able to protect the believers (keeping us from the snares of the demonic forces). He will also “STAND” guard. The scripture says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Duet. 31:6)

APPLICATION:

I remember when my children were born. This was a wonderful time as we sat in that delivery room replaying in our mind the miracle that had just taken place. I remember looking at my wife and saying, “Get some rest, Let the nurses take care of the baby for right now.” I would sit and hold them in my arms and when the nurses would walk in and I would hand the new-born over to them and sit back in the chair and go to sleep. We were able to do this because we had faith and trust in the staff at the hospital. I knew they were able to handle anything that may arise.

Excitement filled our hearts as we were leaving the hospital. But as my wife was being wheeled out to the car, all of the security (Faith and trust) left me. I started thinking, “no more nurses to take the child when we needed some rest.” Questions started flooding my mind: what if something bad was to happen? It was then I was reminded of Duet. 31:6! Be strong and courageous because my God will not leave me. Security and peace came rushing back and we knew everything was going to be fine because God is able!

Today, maybe you are in a situation where you feel weak or fearful. Let this devotional be an encouragement for you to be strong and courageous. No matter what you are going through, our God is able!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

^{^[1]} Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (300). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.