I was browsing through the news Saturday morning on my online home webpage. One article after another about politics, sports, medicine, corporations, etc., could probably be summarized with one word – complaining. Almost every article was complaining about something or someone else.
Somehow, I went from that page to Jude’s letter. Jude wanted to talk about faith “But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” [1:3 NLT]
As he goes on to describe these false teachers who were trying to infiltrate the church, he uses OT examples, and at one point, calls these infiltrators “grumblers and complainers.” I thought his description sure fit what I was reading that morning on my online home webpage.
“These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.” [1:16 NLT]
That description is a commentary on our unique times and social conditions. We are facing exceptional challenges living in these end times. We need to guard against false doctrines, wrong attitudes, and worldly behaviors. We need to have lives that reflect our Savior amid the grumblers and complainers that are so prevalent in our era.
Jude urges us to “defend the faith that God has entrusted” to us for all time. We are to be defenders and contenders, not grumblers and complainers.
Jude does not leave us wondering how to defend and contend for the faith. Before he closes out his letter, he outlines a few attitudes and actions that need to happen. Tomorrow!
