Jude 17:17-25 – – “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, ” In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. ” NASB

It is another beautiful morning. The morning breeze is blowing, coffee smells particularly aromatic, the slight stirring of life and the pleasantness of communion and communication with the Lord makes this a special day. He turned my heart to this passage and said, “…remember when you …live….”

We’ve been warned now for a long time about the days in which we now live but most thought them to be future days. The key in these times is not so much seeing what the mockers, scoffers, dividers, and self-seekers are doing but to “keep ourselves in our most holy faith, praying in the Spirit, keeping ourselves in the love of God and unspotted from the world.”

We are to be lights shining in the darkness and know that as we do, we will become targets of the enemy, but that’s okay. Our focus must be on Jesus for it is He who is able, “to keep us from stumbling and to make us stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.”  It is to be a time of rejoicing, thanksgiving, and praise to the all-wise God who will demonstrate His power, majesty, dominion, and authority before all.

As we move nearer and nearer to the end we must become, in a greater measure than ever, people of prayer, praise, purity, purpose, and power!  That can only be accomplished as “we decrease, and He increases”.  Only as we allow Him to fully live His life in and through us. Only as we die to self and live to Him. Remember, we are not permanent fixtures in this present world, we are passing through but while we are here, we are to be salt and light. The world will hate us because it hated him.

We must pray as if everything depended on us, live free from the weight and sin that so easily besets our course, seek Him first and foremost, and then in the natural “do what we know to do”. That would be witness, work, testify, teach, and help. We are spiritual beings in a natural body living in two worlds at the same time. We have obligations in both.

As you go through your day!  Lift up your heads and rejoice for your redemption draws near and do that which you know you should do in this natural world as you watch and wait for Jesus to come!

May the rich and bountiful blessings of our LORD be yours today!