The Path of PerseveranceSample

Today, we conclude The Path of Perseverance with a letter from Jude, who was a brother of Jesus.

Initially, he was eager to write an exhortation on our shared salvation, but a burden from God arose in him. It caused him to instead charge us to defend our faith against false teachers and doctrines saying God’s grace allows us to continue living immoral lives.

Over time, we can grow sleepy and apathetic toward the glorious grace of the gospel and numb to truth. This can cause us to let a mixture into our lives and forget the revelation of Jesus we received by the Spirit of God. The time to decide what we believe is not when the day of trouble knocks on our door or in the hour of despair. That is a terrible time. Rather, we must renew our minds daily with the truth so we will not fall prey to every new trend, language, influencer, and wave of thinking, leading us to a diluted, compromised faith.

In addition, renewal of the mind through His holy scriptures helps prevent us from allowing sorrow to lead us to unbelief. We must consider Him in all things. As we inch nearer to the return of the Lord, the earth will only continue to groan. The nations will continue to rage and plot in vain. Persecution will come. We need Jesus, but we also need each other to finish well.

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. Jude 1:20-21

Furthermore, Jude implores us to show mercy to all who live outside the provision of the cross while also hating the sin that contaminates their lives. Ultimately, it is the Lord Jesus alone who can keep us in the last days, and we must fix our eyes and set our hope on Him. He is the only way to finish well.

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. Jude 1:24-25

Thank you for joining us over the last 26 days. We pray His word has ignited a flame of perseverance that would not burn for just a season, but until you leave this earth or He returns. In an hour filled with refining and shaking and a promise of more to come, we bless you to endure until the end, abiding in hope, thanksgiving, prayer, and community. May we count it all joy! We love you.