After reading all the news Saturday morning on my online home webpage, I was weary of the complaining. It did not matter what the article was about (politics, sports, medicine, corporations, finances, etc.) the overall attitude was complaining.
God took me to Jude’s Epistle. Jude wanted to write about our common faith in Christ Jesus but began by giving a description and warning about the false teachers who were trying to infiltrate the church. His description sure fit what I had been reading. “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]
Jude tells his readers that rather than being grumblers and complainers, we need to be people who defend and contend for our faith. He gives some positive characteristics of defenders and contenders.
We are to build each other up in our faith. We are to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to show mercy to those with wavering faith. We are to cautiously rescue others from judgment (mercifully loving the sinner but hating the sin). We are also to glorify God with great joy! [1:20-23 NLT]
Then after all that, Jude closes his letter with this marvelous doxology!
“All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” [1:25 NLT]
Yes, All Glory! Amen & Amen!
