Keep Yourself in God’s Love

Knowing his readers were confronted with false teaching, Jude’s first command to his readers was to keep themselves in God’s love. Just before he was crucified, Jesus told his disciples to anticipate persecution. But first, he gave them the command: “Now remain in my love” (John 15:9). In 1 John, John writes to a church dealing with false teaching. But he spends a great portion of his letter reminding the readers of God’s love for them. This makes sense because doubting God’s love is often the root issue when people fall away.

The first false teacher, the serpent, tempted Eve to believe that God was withholding something good from her. Our first parents doubted God’s love for them, even though this was in abundant display all around them in the Garden. This is why, in Hosea 6:7, God declared that Adam refused his love.

False teachers tell us to give money to the church, then God will bless us. It suggests that we need to buy God’s love. It suggests that the signs that God loves us are the jobs, spouses, breakthroughs, and healings that these preachers falsely promise us. It is like a child who strives for good grades hoping that her parents will love her. She has no confidence in their love.

Contrast this with a child who is secure in his parents’ love. He doesn’t worry about whether his parents will provide food or clothes. His parents show him their love every day through smiles, encouraging words, and touch. They show him love whether he is performing well or is hurting, sad, and angry. Our deep inner awareness of God’s love is therefore a powerful response to false teaching.

Love transforms us. Through the gospel, we experience deep in our hearts God’s unconditional love, the greatest love of all. When we personalize the gospel in our lives, we consistently see God’s love as he provides for our needs, protects us, and gives us his peace in our peaceless world. The more we grow in God’s love, the more we recognize false teaching for what it is.

Reflect

Make a list of the evidences in your life of God’s love. What has he provided for you? How has he cared for you? How has he healed or delivered you? Spend time thanking him today for the ways he manifests his love to you.