How to Stay Faithful When Others Fall Away | Jude 20–25

Welcome to The Daily.

ESTHER: We will begin Esther tomorrow. I have titled this one, FOR SUCH A TIME: Courage When God Seems Silent. Grab the Esther Journal now. If you are a Project23 donor giving $35/month or more, don't purchase one; we have already mailed it to you.

Our text today is Jude 20-25

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  — Jude 20-25

Jude has spent most of this letter exposing false teachers, distorted grace, corrupt leadership, rebellious desires, and divisive people.

But after describing "these people," Jude turns to believers and says: "But you, beloved." In other words, they may live that way. But you don't have to.

Jude gives us four clear actions for staying faithful.

Build yourselves up. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God. Wait for the mercy of Jesus. First, build yourselves up in your most holy faith.

Jude is not telling us to invent a more relevant version of Christianity. Christ has already laid the foundation. Our job is to keep building on it. We do this through Scripture, sound teaching, obedience, worship, and relationships with other believers.

And notice Jude says, "building yourselves up." This is plural. Christian growth is not a solo construction project. We need other believers who will encourage us, correct us, pray for us, and remind us of the truth when our judgment gets cloudy. You cannot build a strong faith while continually separating yourself from faithful believers.

Next, Jude says, pray in the Holy Spirit.