“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James—to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” Jude 1-2
As Jude begins his short epistle, he gives us such an identity that should comfort us and encourage us even in the darkest of times. How we think about ourselves impacts every aspect of our lives. Many voices clamor relentlessly to define us, but we must heed God’s voice above them all. What a difference it would make if we believed ourselves to be “called, beloved, and kept”…the trifecta of being God’s children.
Through Jesus’ finished work, He “called” us from the grave into newness of life. He didn’t invite us; He subpoenaed… commanded us right out of our spiritual death. (Think Lazarus from the grave.) He literally spoke the word, and we came alive in Jesus.
No longer dead in our sin and trespasses, we are now fully forgiven and righteous in Christ. It’s humbling to admit, but it’s true. We’re chosen by Him, it is not our choice. From beginning to end, our salvation is 100% by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone to the glory of God alone. We need to regularly thank God, for His sovereign mercy and redemptive might to accomplish the promise/covenant that was made from eternity past.
And now, alive in Christ, we are “beloved” in His sight and heart. May the name “beloved in God the Father,” trump and mute other names with which we have been branded through the years. May this good news free us to live and love to His glory, until we take our last breath in this world.
Speaking of last breaths, we bless and adore our Father, because we are also “kept”—by Jesus and for Jesus. When Jesus returns, our current standing in grace will remain the same for we are His now and forever more. He will finish the work He began in us!
On this February Monday, may God’s mercy, peace, and love increase in your lives, for the blessing of those with whom we live, work, and play because we KNOW ASSURDEDLY that we are “called, beloved, and kept” in, by and for Christ until the end.
God Bless y’all!
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
