COV LIFE BLOG

Jude 17-23 – Remaining in the Love of God

“O beloved! I implore you by the love of God, and by the love of your own souls, be faithful unto death. Do you have difficulties? You must conquer them. Hannibal crossed the Alps, for his heart was full of fury against Rome; and you must cross the Alps of difficulty, for I trust your heart is full of hatred of sin. When Mr. Smeaton had built the second Eddystone lighthouse he looked out anxiously after a storm to see if the edifice was still there, and it was his great joy when he could see it still standing, for a former builder had constructed a lighthouse there on that very same spot and he thought that lighthouse was indestructible, and expressed a wish that he might be in it in the worst storm which ever blew, and he was, and neither himself nor his lighthouse were ever seen again.

Now you have to be exposed to many storms; you must be in your lighthouse in the worst storm which ever blew; therefore build firmly on the Rock of Ages, and make sure work for eternity, for if you do these things, you will never fall. For this Church’s sake, I pray that you do it; for nothing can dishonor and weaken a Church so much as the falls of those who profess Christ. A thousand rivers flow to the sea, and make the meadows rich, but no man hears their sound; but if there is one waterfall, its thunderous sound will be heard for miles, and every traveler will note the fall. A thousand Christians can scarcely give honor to their Master as much as one hypocrite can do to dishonor him. If you have ever tasted that the Lord is gracious, pray that your foot will not slip. It would be infinitely better to bury you in the earth than see you buried in sin. 

Let your prayer not be against death, but against sin. For your own sake, for the Church’s sake, for the name of Christ’s sake, I pray you do this. But you cannot persevere except by many prayers in the closet, a great deal of carefulness over every action, a great dependence on the strong hand of the Holy Spirit who alone can make you stand. Walk and live as in the sight of God, knowing where your great strength lies, and depend on it you will yet sing that sweet doxology in Jude, ‘To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.’

A simple faith brings the soul to Christ, Christ keeps the faith alive; that faith enables the believer to persevere, and so they enter heaven. May that be your lot and mine for Christ’s sake. Amen.”

Charles Spurgeon

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HEART PREPRATION
Read Jude 17-23. As you read this verses, are you finding yourself in God’s love? Are you praying in the Spirit? Are you relying on his grace? What would this mean for your life if by God’s grace you were to grow in these areas?

SONG FOR THE WEEK
Oh the Deep, Deep Love by Sovereign Grace Music