01.23.08 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Hand written letters take time, effort and a stamp. Or if you lived in the ancient world, they would be hand delivered. What would it be like as a house church anxiously awaiting a letter from the Apostle John or Peter or Paul? When that letter showed up, everyone would be so excited to hear it. Even more electricity than in an Ohio living room before the kickoff of an OSU football game.

The folks would pile into the room together. No one would have a Bible, but possibly and copied pages of the last letter they received. Probably they would ask their "spiritual papa" to read this message and he would have the honor of actually reading it out loud for everyone to hear.

On Sunday night, we attempted to receive the letter from Jesus' half brother Jude in the same way. We had our Bibles with us, but we had it read aloud to us. We listened intently to what Jude would have to say to us. (I'd encourage you to read it for yourself here or if you'd like to listen to it you can here > Letter from Jude (RealPlayer Audio)


As they probably did in the primitive church, the saints clung to some nuggets that they heard. As we heard it fresh, it seemed as though Jude wrote us personally to:

- Push us to remember the Bible (the apostles teachings)! (v. 17)
- Encourage us to build up each other in the holy faith (v. 20)
- Pray in the Spirit (v. 20)
- Look forward to the coming mercy of Jesus…bringing eternal life! (v. 21)
- Keep yourself in God’s love (v.21)

He didn't stop there he encouraged us to relate with others like this:

- And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. (v. 22)

- Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. (v. 23)

- Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. (v.23)

This challenge was excellent. We needed it. There were no big "surprises" in how to live out this letter, just the encouragement and exhortation to do it. I don't know how they did bullet points in the first century, but I need them in this century. Hopefully those above will encourage and exhort you.



And above all we need prayer...and Jude prayed for us. Here's how he ended his letter:



Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away

and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.

All glory to him who alone is God,

our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his

before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!

Amen.

(verses 24-25)



Press on,

Mike