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July 29 Jude, bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: may mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1,2. When Jude explains that those who are kept for Jesus, he is saying that they are sanctified, or set apart for Jesus. We also know from 1 Corinthians 1:30 that Jesus Himself is our sanctification. So every believer is already set apart from the world and set into Jesus. We are in effect preserved for Jesus. This sanctification is the work of the Father, but it is through the Son. The believer is to increasingly accept this secure position in Christ. That means that our mind and spirit will gradually recognize the importance and the power of this position. It is critically important that we embrace this; otherwise we are less conscious of the working of the Spirit within our lives. We cannot create sanctification for ourselves by any religious service. We cannot convince ourselves by any act that we can out perform God in His ability to set us apart. Notice that Jude goes on to say that mercy and peace and love will be multiplied in us. This is the progressive work of sanctification—the working our of the Christ life within us. Only when we are set apart for His tasks can we see the fulfillment of His desires. Today, Heavenly Father, we want to enjoy our set-apartness. We are captive to You, and as a bondservant we know that all of our life and our duties are dedicated to You. We are walking together side by side, and it is a tribute to Your grace and love that makes all of this possible. Amen. |
