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So here is something else to be anxious about. Am I anxious for the mercy of Jesus the Messiah? I need the mercy of Jesus. I have completely missed God’s goal for my life. God is in a good mood, however. I am ready for mercy!

  • I should keep my arms open.
  • They are outstretched.
  • I am eager for His mercy.

I am ready beyond anything I have felt before for our Master’s mercy. I am staying at the center of God’s love.

I am building myself up in holy faith. I am praying in the Spirit. This life in Him never ends. It goes on and on and on. It is real life.

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 Master Jesus the Messiah that leads to eternal life.[1]

Jude 1:20-21

As we face many challenges and trials in this world, we need to remember the exhortation of Jude, the brother of James and the half-brother of Jesus. He wrote a short but powerful letter to the early Christians, warning them about false teachers and apostates who were trying to corrupt the gospel and lead them astray. He also gave them some practical advice on how to contend for the faith and keep themselves in the love of God.

This verse is a wonderful reminder of our identity and our responsibility as followers of Jesus! We are beloved by God, chosen and called by His grace, adopted into His family, and sealed by His Spirit. We are not alone or forsaken, but we are dearly loved and cared for by our heavenly Father. He has given us a most holy faith, a precious gift that enables us to believe in His Son and His promises, and to live by His word and His will. He has also given us the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who dwells in us and empowers us to pray according to God’s will and to overcome our weaknesses and temptations.

So how do we respond to this amazing grace and love? Jude tells us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and to pray in the Holy Spirit. This means that we need to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God’s word, which is the foundation and source of our faith. We need to study it diligently, meditate on it daily, memorize it faithfully, and apply it practically. We also need to pray constantly, not only for ourselves but for others as well. We need to pray in the Spirit, which means that we need to rely on His guidance and wisdom, and to align our prayers with His desires and purposes. We need to pray with sincerity, fervency, humility, and faith.

As we do these things, we will be able to stand firm in the truth and resist the lies of the enemy. We will be able to grow in grace and maturity, and bear fruit for God’s glory. We will be able to experience more of God’s presence and power in our lives and enjoy more of His peace and joy. We will be able to fulfill our calling and mission as ambassadors of Jesus in this world.

So let us take heed of Jude’s words today. Let us build ourselves up in our most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Let us remember that we are beloved by God, and that He is with us always. Let us rejoice in His salvation and praise Him for His goodness. Let us share His love and grace with others and invite them to join us in this journey of faith. And let us look forward to the day when we will see Him face to face, and hear Him say: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.” Amen!

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jud 20–21.