How you doin? It's
been 3 years and 4 months for Stacey and I to get to Revelation. 1
chapter at a time. Over 3 years ago we decided to read 1 chapter a day
for morning devotions. We wanted to to read without an agenda. No
study or purpose. We just wanted to read it as though it were a story
about our favorite person by our favorite author. Reading with the
willingness to hear whatever the Holy Ghost had to say to us. That was
our prayer, "Open our minds and our hearts to what you have to say to us
through this reading today". It still is our prayer. We do plenty of
study, word search, subject or topic search/study, but what we've
benefited the most from is a willingness to receive whatever the Holy
Ghost is dishing out. COME ON!!!!!!! I do love study, but reading the
Bible without agenda is more valuable. Reading the Bible because we
love the Author has been life changing. I don't see it as Bible study, I
see it as Author loving. We as a people have favorite authors,
directors, singers, actors, etc. When those people come out with a new
book, movie, or album, we can't wait to get it or see it. God offers us
the same thing but in the same book. It's new to me every time I read
it. The best part is, I don't have to wait for God to come out with
something new, I just have to open His book. He has something new for
me everyday. That's a great deal. The book of Jude today.
The first
16 verses describe a people that we as followers of Jesus are warned
about. We don't want to become these people or be influenced by these
people. Whenever I read this type of Scripture, I listen closely and I
ask the Holy Ghost to remove any parts that relate to me. I'm not
exempt from temptation of ungodly things. I do live in His refuge
though, which offers me redemption and cleansing. COME ON!!!!!!!
Verses 17-23, "But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, [r]worldly-minded, [s]devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh."
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! Verses 18-19 are what NOT TO DO verses. Cause
division, worldly-minded, and devoid of the Spirit. OUCH!!!!!!! I
can't have this in my life. Can you imagine standing before God in
judgement and having these things being said about you. More then that I
can't stomach the thought of treating my loving Father this way.
Praise God I have the desire to avoid this state of spirituality with
all I'm worth. I will yield myself to God so He will seal my heart from
these influences. Verses 20-23 are AWESOME!!!!!!! Verse 21 is my
favorite. I love God's simplicity. "Keep yourselves in the love of
God". I/we have a choice in this. This is one of those wonderful
paradoxes. I keep myself in the love of God through Him who dwells in
me. That's a great deal. Here Jude is instructing us to do something
that the Holy Ghost does for us. COME ON!!!!!!!
This
group of people who cause division, are worldly-minded, and devoid of
the Spirit, are Stacey's and my mission field. We have such a heart for
these folks. Living devoid of the Spirit and worldly-mind, to me is
torturous. These folks can also prevent those hungry for God from
receiving the full measure of His grace. As mentioned above, they cause
division. During the "Re-Awakening" conference, Mark Chirrona spoke on
the "remnant". That God uses the remnant that love Him and believe
Him. Not believe in Him, but believe Him. Satan believes in Him, he
just doesn't believe Him. The remnant that are miserable about how
things are going in the church. When I'm at church my heart cries for
the "Christians" who don't follow Jesus. They are stifled and
influenced by the demonic spirit of religion, doubt, and unbelief. I
love verse 22's instructions on how to deal with these folks.
Verses 24-25, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to
the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and [t]forever. Amen."
HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!! I'm just lay right underneath that and let it
land on me. SO GOOD!!!!!!! Keep yourself in the love of God today.
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