Jude 1:20-22 - But you, dear
friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our
holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Stay
always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Wait
patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going
to give you. Try to help those who argue against
you. Be merciful to those who doubt.
Jude packs all of his words into one chapter. He wanted to
write about salvation…but chose to address the problem of false teachers
instead. His day dealt with the rising acceptance of a sect known as Gnostics…who
denounced Christ’s lordship…and embraced all material pleasures as good and
spiritual experiences. His words are just as relevant to us today….the gnostic
attitude has gained strength if anything.
Jude’s words here speak to one of the most important reasons
we should study the Bible that God gave us to live by. We need to know the truth for ourselves…so
that the subtle changes that false teachers make to justify their beliefs don’t
trick us into sinning too. Many of the false teachers know the scriptures
better than the believer they are trying to convince of their opinion.
But my thoughts turned to another problem that distresses my
spirit every time I experience it. Sin can twist our thinking in more than one
way. We can be tricked into sin that the Bible clearly teaches against. But
think about this for a moment. How many
of us are tricked into being so self-righteous….our sin is the way we treat
others that don’t agree with our definitions of what is sin?
The more I study my Bible…the more I understand how
important it is to separate the sin from the sinner. Just read the next verse…23... “ Save some by snatching them as from the very
flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being
kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their
sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as
sinners.” Jude clearly says here to hate the sin …but love the sinner.
I admit that it is hard to do. There is a very fine line
between compromise and standing for a belief. The bottom line is how we take
that stance. It’s one thing to believe a certain thing…and support that belief
with scripture. It is another to judge
all of those that chose to disagree with you. Believers who cross that line ….and fail to
love and show compassion and kindness as Jude suggests…. drive more people into
the arms of false teachers than they rescue and save.
Father…thank you for the reminder that you are love in its
purest form. Thank you for the love and mercy
you have shown this sinner. Forgive me
for the times I have let pride and self-centeredness create in my heart a
spirit of self-righteousness. Wash all the pieces of that judgmental spirit out
of my heart so that I can show only the love that attracts a lost heart to your
salvation. Amen.
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