“Building Yourself Up”
DEVOTIONAL “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
Jude 1:20-21 NASBS
The word of God is very clear, the God of Jacob is sovereign and all Whom He calls will come to Him as it is written, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” But nowhere in the scriptures does it say that those who have been called to such a great salvation as this are lifeless, stoic with no emotions, or mere machines who set back idle awaiting for their inheritance. Christian’s are individuals in whom the Lord has illuminated the sin that lies hidden in their deepest affections by His perfect word. The Lord of Host Who commands the angels of heaven has brought each of His servants here on earth into a violent war against their fleshly lust. My brothers and sisters you cannot continue in a life of sin, for your conscience will be terrorized by the things that God hates, just as it is written, “For no one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
So those of you who are partakers of the divine nature, just as God has commanded you, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, “give diligence to make your calling and election sure,” and “watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Though God has saved you by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and has awakened you to see the crucified Savior, you are not to become slothful in prayer, but diligent in denying ungodly lust. So you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” “Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”
Christian be done with the wicked works of sin, such as drunkenness, adultery, murder, violence, infidelity, gender identity, pornography, homosexuality, lying, cheating, stealing, and all other abominable idolatries, for those who practice such things will not enter into the kingdom of God. You are not to be passive upon these subjects, but you are to take everything captive to the word of God. The world will contend with you, mock you, malign you, reject you, and if possible even put you to death, but hold your ground with steadfastness and patience beloved of God. Remember the judge stands right at the door, yes Jesus Christ Himself will soon appear and set things back to its proper order. Until that moment may God’s Grace be with you as you march behind the general of the armies of heaven, The Lord Jesus Christ.