A call to persevere

Jude 1:17-25 (New International Version)

21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

"...the maintenance of our faith and the laying hold of eternal life is a constant fight.” ~ John Piper (hear devotional)

Jude concludes his letter with a doxology or short song of praise to God (vv. 24-25).

no occassion to stumble loving ones brother

1 John 2:10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.(New International Version)

the newness of the “old” (love) command

Read: 1 John 2:7-11

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 13:34

1 John 2:7-8 (New International Version)
7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning... 8Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, ...

"In Jesus, God is doing a new thing. The newness of the command is not the command itself, but that in Jesus, through His Spirit, God transforms our hearts to be able to obey the command (see John 3:5; Ezek. 36:25-27). Our hearts are new." ~ Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live like Jesus did, and the world will listen.”

Read: 1 John 2:3-6

1 John 2:6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (New International Version)

Are u walking with God?

Take the test. Read: 1 John 1:5-7

v. 7a – But it we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another.

Apostle John pleads that if we claim to have fellowship with God (walking in the light) we will be reconciled to one another.

What’s your score? If not great, take heart. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Repent and pray along these lines.

I need you to survive.

Is it better to serve the world or die in God's plan?

Overtaken by Fear Exodus 14:10-14

v.12b "For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."

When godly situations look tough, don't look for a worldly answer.The Lord will fight for you; you
need only be still. v.14

Psalms 46:10a Be still, and know that I am God

The Long Road to Freedom

Led to Freedom by God Exod. 13:17-22

Crossing the Sea Exod. 13:17-22

¹⁷ When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." ¹⁸ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.

Note 1 v.17 - God does NOT necessarily lead His people to freedom through the shortest road for if He did (when they faced a battle) they might change their minds and return to their enslavement. A long road ensures commitment to freedom.

What victory/freedom are you allowing God to work out in your life right now? It may be that He has you on the longer path to ensure the sustained victory. In your patience, ye possess your souls.

²¹ By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Note 2 v.21-22 God promises never to leave or forsake His people.

Trust God!