First we see the call to live right, and the cost of living right. Finally we notice the course for living right. God has a direction for us to follow. We have been called to live right, and we must be willing to pay the price. The Lord tells us how to live right; God has a course for us to follow. If we are going to live right, we must follow the plan God has for us in His Word. Put these things from the book of Jude to work in your life.
Build Yourself Up
The Bible says in Jude 20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith.” The first thing He says to do is to build yourself up. We have the right Foundation, Jesus Christ; build on Him.
As Paul greeted the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, his heart was stirred. The Bible says in Acts 20:17-25, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”
If you want to know how much you love someone, think of what it would be like to see that person no more. Paul said, “I have ministered among you. I have preached the truth, but I go and you will see my faee no more.” The Bible continues in verse 26, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.”
Then he declares in verses 27-32, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
Notice that “the word of his grace” is able to build us up. It is God’s Word that builds us up. God says in Jude verse 20 that we are to build ourselves up. Acts 20:32 says that we build ourselves up with the Word of God. In order to live right in this evil world, we must build ourselves up by reading God’s Word.
Pray in the Holy Ghost
Notice what else He says in verse 20, “Praying in the Holy Ghost.” “Praying in the Holy Ghost” simply means to walk with the Lord in obedience to Christ, to pray as we walked with the Lord in the light of His Word, to fellowship with Him and to ask anything in His name believing He will grant it. This is the only way to pray. The Bible says in John 14:13, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
The Bible says in 1 John 1:5-7, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
When we are walking with the Lord, walking in the Holy Spirit and praying in the Spirit in the name of the Lord, we are doing what God has called us to do. What about your prayer life? I am ashamed when I say “prayer life.” I am ashamed of how strong we could be and how weak we are, of how much we could have from God anyhow little we do have. In this wicked world, we must walk with God seeking His power on our lives.
Keep Yourself in the Lord of God
The Bible says in Jude 20, “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” This does not mean trying to get God to love you. There is nothing we can do to make God love us. He already loves us. There is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us. We are loved with an “everlasting love.”
This verse teaches us to obey the Lord and stay in the place of blessing. When children go out the door and the weather is cold, their mother will say, “Stay in the sunshine. Stay in the place where it is warm.” God says, “Keep yourself in the love of God.” Be sure to keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus. Think always of His great compassion.
Look for the Lord’s Return
Again, the Bible says in Jude 20, “Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” This speaks of our Lord’s return. It will change our lives to live in the light of the second coming of Jesus Christ. If we really believe that the Lord could come today, it will change the way we live. If we will do these things, we can live right in a world that is wrong.
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40