The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
March 25-30, 2024
Enter the presence of the Lord-
‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them…I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness…I will tend them in a good pasture, … I will shepherd the flock with justice… I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd… 25 “ ‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. (Ezekiel 34:11, 12b, 14, 16d, 23, 25-26a).”
Confession
Sovereign Lord, you are our God. We are your sheep, the sheep of your pasture. Let the light of you face shine upon us. Fill our hearts with joy of your salvation. Make us dwell in your safety. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Scripture reading:Jude
4-5 I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
20-23But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Thoughts to Share: Defend Faith against False Teachers
This letter of Jude is another short letter in the New Testament. It has a clear purpose: to defend the faith that God has entrusted to his holy people. The problematic circumstance was a group of people among Jude’s community claimed authority from their dreams. That led them to live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. They denied Jesus Christ as their only Sovereign and Lord. They divided the Christian community.
Jude dealt with such situation in two fronts-
First, Jude pointed out the features of these infiltrators by the fruits of their lifestyles. He foretold the fate of these people was self-destruction and into eternal judgement of fire.
Secondly, Jude exhorted the Christ-followers to stand firm by
- Be faithful to the teachings passed from the apostles
- Grow and be built up in the faith
- Wait for God’s mercy to bring eternal life patiently
- Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit
- Keep themselves safe in the love of God.
Jude identified himself as the brother of James and Jesus. So the letter might reveal the earliest Christian history in Jerusalem, the Jewish cultural and religious center then. We can imagine the challenges and difficulties on those Christ-followers and leaders from its surrounding environment. Jude as a pastoral leader in such circumstance surely felt frustrated and discouraged. Yet, we see his ultimate trust in the one whom he knew and believed in his final powerful conclusion-
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling 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.”
When we see through Christian church history, we find heresies coming and going. The Christ has been continuedly upholding his holy people and vulnerable church amid all challenges. We truly see the glory, majesty, power, and authority of our God our Savior in Jesus Christ shine through the ages. We can be sure that Jesus is and will be with his people and his church now and forever as they encounter and go through every difficult time and circumstance.
Prayer Suggestions
Jesus Christ, the Truth, thank you that you are our Truth. There is a safe love in your truth. Lead us not into temptation of false teachers and deliver us
from the hands of false teachers. Thank you. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Request
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