Today we are memorizing Jude 20 - 23. These verses will be our last for 2017.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep 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 Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Ladies, these verses show us what our charge should be here as members and followers of Women in the Word!
The first and most important thing Jude tells his readers to do is to build themselves up in the holy faith. This is a command given to the members of the church corporately. They are to build up the corporate body of Christ, which is God’s temple. Being in a strong Christian community of faith lessens the enticement to follow false teaching or sinful lifestyles. Women in the Word believes just that - women who come to a place to fellowship with other believers and commit to each other in Godly love.
Jude next implores them to pray in the Holy Spirit. As a community of Christ they are to develop a life constantly in communion with the Spirit through prayer. This intimacy with the Spirit will guard them. Here in Women in the Word we pray for each other - we share with one another our fears, desires, and failings. We are transparent with each other and pray for each other with commitment and fervor.
Jude tells his readers to keep themselves in the love of God. As members of our Women in the Word we are keeping ourselves in Christ by reading, reflecting, journalling, and sharing our thoughts with each other. By participating we are enabling and motivating to keep ourselves in the love of God. We have hope that salvation awaits those who come to Him and keep themselves in the love of God.
Jude then tells his readers the attitude that (our) Christian community is to have towards those who are lost, those that may have followed false teachers. Here in Women in the Word we understand that we all are the spokesmen through whom God works. We are to help those who are doubting and searching for the truth, being careful that false teaching does not hinder our own belief.
So, today, as Women who are in the Word, we acknowledge that we all need a vibrant, loving community grounded in the Word of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, hating sin, but pursuing lost sheep.
WitW will be traveling through the iWorship bible during 2018. I will be posting a schedule of memory verses soon and the first verse of 2018 will be posted December 30, 2017! We here at WitW are confident that it will be another incredible year!
Have a blessed and precious day and Christmas everyone!