build yourselves up: that to me implies that there needs to be conscious effort on my part to build my faith up. i need to be trying to grow. (it reminds me of philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.) the chinese translation of the verse tells us to build ourselves up with our faith as our foundation, on top of our faith, and to also be praying all the while in the spirit.
again - keep yourselves in God's love. i have literally been seeing this theme repeated and repeated and repeated in all my devotions, and all in relation to building yourself up or guarding your faith or being sure of your salvation, things like that. and so now the question is, how do you keep yourself in God's love?
God can hold us because God’s love has substance. We are told to "keep yourselves in the love of God" (Jude 1:21). The Bible isn’t saying here that you should make sure God keeps loving you. With people that might be true, but not with God. Not at all! Instead, we are to keep ourselves inside the substance of His love. Jesus said it this way: "Abide in My love" (John 15:9). That means we should live inside it. The love of God is a substance that we can stay inside because the love of God is God Himself: "The one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:16). Direct your heart to refuge yourself in the love that shines from God...to summarize in my own words - abiding/keeping myself in God's love is a conscious act of the will that says: i believe God is good, God can be trusted, and i will open myself to him. and what does Jesus say about loving him? "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15) so abiding/keeping myself in God's love also means consciously choosing to obey God every second. temptations and trials will still come, but when they come, i can respond by turning to God and saying "help me obey you, honor you."
Though you can’t see it, the caress of God is something that is real, something you can experience. Draw near to God by trusting you are entering the throne room. Think about being in the throne room and close to God as a reality that is greater than the material world around you. When you draw near to Him this way He will draw near to you because He is a fountain (Heb. 10:19,22; Ps. 36:7-9). Let Him be God to you; let Him hold you. And, don’t be afraid if you become aware that He is pursuing you. Unlike many people you have known, God is good. Reassure your heart that God is not a predator with secrete intentions to hurt people: "O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Ps. 34:8). Stop fighting and submit to the truth. It is best for you if you trust Him. (http://www.tasteheavennow.net/understanding_yourself/intimacy_with_god.htm)
and the last part of that verse, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.it's a really good reminder to me that it is only by the grace brought about by Jesus' sacrifice that i can at all enter into heaven.
another verse that stuck out to me was:
22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
i had some trouble understanding what on earth jude was talking about: what does it mean to "show others mercy, mixed with fear", and how is it that i am supposed to love sinners but hate "even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh"? i ended up looking up the passage on matthew henry's commentary (as far as online commentaries go i'm always wary of them because i don't know which one can be trusted, but matthew henry is a very very respected and famous theologian from ages ago (not sure how old, but if you read his stuff you can tell by his style it was a while ago hahahah) and you can easily just google any of his commentaries.), and his commentary gave an explanation that "mercy, mixed with fear" is talking about how with some you would show mercy, others you would try to instill in them a fear of the Lord, and that you are to abhor evil things, and all things that lead to and are associated with sin.
all right, i think this post is now officially long enough, hahah. and i also have to run. i will just conclude by saying that this passage also, to me, seemed to have 2 major themes: contending for the faith, and the characteristics of a "godless man".
ok, will try to blog again later although my schedule today is really tight ><
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