Today’s verse is surrounded by a warning from Jude. It’s a detailed and lengthy warning about the existence of posers — people who pretend to be Christians but don’t follow Christ at all.
There were a lot of people like that in ancient times, apparently, and there seem to be even more today. So many in fact that it would be hard for someone who hasn’t read the Bible to know what Jesus really said or did. Does Jesus hate gay people? Would Jesus ask His followers to bomb a clinic that provides healthcare to needy women? Would Jesus endorse leaders who abused people, lied, cheated, and incited violence because they might help enact legislation He approved of?
If you have read the Bible, you know the answer to all those questions isn’t just “no”, but “absolutely not!”
There are a lot of people posing as Christians. So what are followers of Jesus supposed to do about it? Today’s verse is what Jude says to do in the midst of posers.
Step 1: Build up my most holy faith.
My faith is built by learning about God through reading His word, praying and listening for His voice, obeying His commands, trusting the outcome of my obedience, and witnessing His faithfulness.
Step 2: Pray in the Holy Spirit.
As a follower of Jesus, I have been given the Holy Spirit to remind me what is true and help me recognize lies. But I have to keep the Holy Spirit at the front of my mind. It’s easy to let other voices drown out God’s voice. So I need to take time often to pray and ask for input, direction, correction, guidance, and wisdom. And listen hard for the answers.
Step 3: Keep myself in the love of God.
This is twofold: I must remember that God loves me and remember to share that love with others. Constantly. Keep on it. When the posers say something contrary to love, I need to remember how much God loves me and how He wants me to redistribute that love generously. Love defeats hate the way light defeats darkness.
Step 4: And finally, wait expectantly for the mercy of Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Opposing the posers (by building my faith, praying, and keeping in God’s love) is work. It requires daily — no, constant rededication and vigilance. Only with God’s strength can I manage, and because of His promised future reward, I know it will be worth it in the end. I need to live in joyful expectation. He has mercifully forgiven me and will allow me to enter into His perfect eternity. Where there will be no posers, only true believers.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving me the tools I need to stand up against posers who pretend to know you. Build my faith, teach me to pray, and fill me with your love — so much that it spills out onto everyone I meet. And remind me to live expectantly — joyfully awaiting your merciful return.
CamDevo 