“Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 20-21
Lord Jesus, when it comes to things we actually do have control over, the “don’ts’s” outnumber “do’s’” by big percentage. Loved-one’s happiness, world peace, inflation ending, toddlers sleeping, tomorrow’s worries, today’s surprises—we’re not the queens, lords, or control-clerks of these things.
But your half-brother, Jude, gave us 4 things we can always do, whether life feels like “rapture” or “rupture”—a ballroom dance or Sisyphus rolling his ball up a hill.
Building ourselves up in the faith: Hiding your Word in our hearts, walking in rich fellowship and friendship, meditating on your beauty and the truths of the Gospel—this is the spiritual equivalent of drinking water, eating bread, and breathing air… necessary and always “doable.”
Praying in the Holy Spirit: Not just “saying our prayers”—but adoring you, communing with you, seeking you—the One who has sought (still pursues us), and found (always finds us). First and foremost, prayer is getting more of you, Jesus, not “Yeses” from you.
Keeping ourselves in your love: Your love is impossible to earn or lose, but very easy to take for granted, ignore, and doubt. That’s just how “prone to wander” we are. Our calling is to get in and swim in the river of your love; not take selfies from the shoreline.
Waiting for the mercy of your return: Not waiting to be adored by our kids, idolized by a spouse, having enough money, or things/people to change —but waiting for you, Jesus. Come soon, So Very Amen.