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To Be Conintued

May 10, 2019

Because we’re ending Jude on a Friday, there won’t be a Daily Text this Saturday. Tim Tennent will still bring the Psalms Daily Text on Sunday, and on Monday we’ll start Titus.  

Jude 25b

Amen.

CONSIDER THIS

“Amen” is the signal that we’re done. The most common modern definition is “so be it.” “Amen” usually serves as the prayer version of “The End.”

Jude ends his letter with “Amen” and we move on. But what if that’s not really the end? 

The word amen originates in the Old Testament Hebrew meaning “truth.” To put it in more practical terms, to say “amen” at the end of a prayer or a sermon means something like, “What you’ve said is the truth.”

1 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

In other words, through Jesus the truth is spoken by you and me. 

With that in mind, consider the pattern these last three days on how to defend the faith against false teaching. Jude begins with you and me individually:

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love (v. 20-21).

Then he moves to how we deal with others:

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives (v.22-23).

Then he concludes with God’s actions and nature:

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.(v. 24-25)

Distill it down to it’s most basic and we get you for others because of God.

This is the amen, the truth we speak with our lives. It’s an amen defended by loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving our neighbor as ourselves… which is the pattern if you reverse the order of Jude’s ending. See what he did there?  

And so Jude ends his letter on defending against what is false with an amen that is not a “the end” but a “to be continued” until Jesus returns. 

Can I get an amen?

THE PRAYER

Jesus, give me more and more mercy, peace, and love. Amen and amen. 

THE QUESTION

What was the most challenging word for you from Jude?

For the awakening,
Omar Al-Rikabi

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WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

Comments and Discussion

One Response

  1. Thank you Pastor Omar for this wonderful book. I had never heard that Jude was the younger brother of Jesus & James.
    Keeping the faith and not getting caught in judgment– is a daily discipline.
    Many Blessings to you and specially your sweet girls. Grace.

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