Kept

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 1:17-23 ESV). Sometimes I’m exactly sure about something. I think I know, but a little bit of doubt goes a long way. There have been times when I have been faced with options that seem to be equally good. I often wondered how to determine the precise will of God. While these kinds of doubts are not as serious as others, it does still shake me a bit. As I read today’s passage I was reminded that there is an answer to the doubts that come into our minds from time to time, whether they concern major or minor decisions in our lives. Jude simply says we should keep ourselves in the love of God. Some would cite the first verse and say that it is not our responsibility to “keep” ourselves in the love of God. While I certainly agree that God’s grace does keep us for all eternity, there is a part we play in the journey that makes our path much more tolerable. It is true that we don't keep ourselves saved, but we can help keep ourselves safe. God's love is unconditional. And fortunately for us, Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father. But we can do things that will get us out of harmony with His love. That's why we are reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we are to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep away from any influence that would violate God's love and bring sorrow to His heart. We are loved by God, and He will protect His investment. For example, if you own an inexpensive pair of sunglasses, you may not be all that concerned about where they are. But if you have a more expensive pair, then you will tend to know their whereabouts. Or, if you went to a crowded mall with your children, you wouldn't just forget about them. Instead, you would keep your eye on them, because you want to protect what is dear to you. In the same way, we are preserved, we are protected, and we are being kept by the power of God. But we need to keep ourselves in a place where He can actively show His love to us. We need to keep ourselves in the love of God. The best way to maintain that kind of relationship is through both prayer and Bible study. We talk to Him and He talks to us. It renews our relationship and helps make the decisions easier to make!