Daily Devotions: Too Much Truth - Jude 1:1-7

Jude 1:3           Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 

Sharing salvation is one of the greatest joys that Christians can ever experience. Contending for the faith, however, can be one of the hardest tasks that Christians endure.

These days, a lot of people want the blessings of salvation without the burden of commitment. They want the Gospel to be glamorous and the Bible to be light. They want God to accept everything and they want to give hardly anything in return. In other words, there’s a market out there for cheap grace, so whoever can provide this will win the most shallow of followers.

But Christianity is not glamorous; instead it is onerous. Jude makes this quite clear in his letter’s opening remarks and in terms that make post-modern people wince. He doesn’t pull any punches, nor does he accommodate any societal sensitivity. He is very candid about the divine judgment and everlasting punishment that will befall those who are sexually immoral. In other words, Jude condemns the whole of our present progressive and permissive society to Hell.

Whether or not we agree with Jude’s statements is left to us. But we should bear two things in mind as we consider his words. Firstly, he is writing to the Church about the sinfulness of the Church and not the world. Secondly, this letter is in our Bibles, so it must have sacred and eternal truth attached to it. Can we same the same for our thoughts, our letters, and our own opinions?

The problem with Jude has always been a problem for the Church: he is far too blunt. However, the question we need to ask ourselves is this: is he also being completely truthful, which is why his letter offends us?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, in every generation we have to find and face the truth about ourselves, about You, and about God. We struggle today with issues of our own making, and we wrestle with problems that we have created. Reclaim us as Your own, and set the Church back onto the right and truthful path, even when it offends us. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to respond to today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.