Hey Jude, verses 17-23
Still in Jude, but nearing the end:
But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.” These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. And have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.
This passage always makes me chuckle because of the bit about scoffers. When I was a high school/college student, occasionally I’d be in a conversation with my mother, and some idea would come up, and I’d say, “I scoff at that.” She’d often reply, “The Bible said people like you would be here.”
Anyway, here are my answers to the 3 questions:
- What happened in the text?
Jude reminds believers that ungodly people would come, so to fill themselves with God’s goodness and act mercifully. - What do I learn about God?
He knows what’s going to happen.
His Spirit is what keeps people from being overtaken by what was described in earlier verses as animal desires.
He has mercy for us, allowing us to have mercy for others.
There is an appropriate fear of God and distaste for sin and its effects. - What should I do about it?
A few things come to mind. This passage seems easier to apply than the previous ones.- Building up in the faith, and praying in the spirit. Blogging Bible study can’t be a game or an experiment. If there are people out like like Jude has described, I need to be following God as best I can, so interaction with Him isn’t optional!
- Mercy on the wavering. It’s often said that Christians are too quick to shoot their own wounded, and whether that’s true or not, I think people think it’s true. That means it’s difficult, even among Christians, to share what you’re really thinking and what you’re really struggling with. Furthermore, the “wavering” may, as part of their wavering, stop attending things like small groups, so I won’t know they’re wavering. So actual friendship and caring on an individual basis is required. I have a particular person in mind with whom I need to connect better.
- Hating even the clothes stained by the flesh. In my desire to show mercy, I can’t confuse people into thinking that their motives and behaviors that are in rebellion to God are okay. There is a fine line here, because many people confuse themselves with what they do. Some people think they are defined by their job, others think they are defined by their school, some by their role in their family, and others — perhaps more along the lines of the people Jude is referring to — by their sexuality. People have heard too many times our philosophy of loving the sinner but hating the sin … and seen too many times our practice of hating both. So let’s all knock that off.
Tomorrow’s the last bit of Jude; I haven’t decided yet what’ll come next. Something rather different, for sure.