Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Jude
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 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.
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 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.
Commentary:
20 praying in the Holy Spirit. That is, in the sense of praying in harmony with the leading of the Holy Spirit, rather than according to one’s own agenda (cf. Rom. 8:26–27; Eph. 6:18). The context here suggests the idea of praying in the Spirit in a general sense, rather than the specific sense of speaking in tongues described in 1 Cor. 14:14–19.
21 Keep (or guard) yourselves in the love of God is the main clause in vv. 20–21 and is modified by the two participles (“building,” “praying”) in v. 20 and the participle (waiting) in v. 21. Christians keep themselves in God’s love by growing strong doctrinally, persevering in prayer, and “waiting” for the Lord’s coming. Christians are to keep themselves in God’s love, and vv. 1–2 and vv. 24–25 teach that God keeps them as well. Ultimately, God promises to keep and preserve the faith of his own people, so that no true believer will ever lose his or her salvation (cf. notes on Heb. 6:4–8; 2 Pet. 1:10).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2451.
21 Keep (or guard) yourselves in the love of God is the main clause in vv. 20–21 and is modified by the two participles (“building,” “praying”) in v. 20 and the participle (waiting) in v. 21. Christians keep themselves in God’s love by growing strong doctrinally, persevering in prayer, and “waiting” for the Lord’s coming. Christians are to keep themselves in God’s love, and vv. 1–2 and vv. 24–25 teach that God keeps them as well. Ultimately, God promises to keep and preserve the faith of his own people, so that no true believer will ever lose his or her salvation (cf. notes on Heb. 6:4–8; 2 Pet. 1:10).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2451.
Questions:
- The next thing we are to do in order to keep ourselves in God's love is by PRAYING with FERVOR. Praying with fervor means we have a consistent and passionate prayer life. This is a far cry from just "Good bread, good meat, dear Lord, let's eat!" This is a lifestyle of pouring yourself out before God. Would you say you have a prayer life that has fervor? Is prayer a lifestyle for you?
- Verse 20 says we should "pray in the power of the Holy Spirit." Other translations say "pray in the Spirit." This is not speaking specifically of praying in tongues, but rather being stimulated by, guided by, and infused by the Holy Spirit. It's praying for that which is consistent with the Spirit's will - His desires, directives and decrees. Just like any relationship, building ours with the Father requires communication with Him. What kind of prayers are you most often praying? How often are you talking with God?
Prayer Topics:
- That God would give you a hunger and discipline for prayer.
- That you would come boldly to the throne of God.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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