Knowing and Exercising Spiritual Discernment (Jude 22-23)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-09-04

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Knowing and exercising spiritual discernment

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Jude 22-23

            Message of the verse:  “22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”  (NAS)  “22 Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren’t contaminated by their sins.”  (NLT)

            Jude now gives some ways for the believers to deal with people who have fallen into the traps of the apostates.  The first thing he says is to have mercy on those who are doubting or who have wavering faith.  Jude seems to be saying that the correct way to draw those who are thinking about joining someone who is a false teacher is to gently show them mercy, in other words show them the mercy that God has shown in His Word.  Show them and abundance of love so that they can understand that the false teachers are wrong. 

            Jude next words are for those who have already fallen in with the apostates and his teaching is to snatch them out of the fire.  When Lot came out of Sodom the angel pulled him out of the fire, and this might be what Jude is referring to in this part of the verse.

            The last section teaches that when we go to rescue someone from the false teachers that we ourselves do not fall into the same practice they have fallen into.  It seems that one must be directly led by the Lord to do this and also be covered by prayer so one does not fall into temptation.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  To show mercy is what the Lord has spoken to me about as I look over these verses.  There are far to many times when I see mistakes that people are making that I do not make any more and while I am trying to help them I do not show mercy and therefore do not help them at all.

The Word of God was challenging to me as I read it this day.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord with what is going on in Canada this day as in regard with our investments.  Trust that the Lord’s perfect will, will be worked out in all of this.

Memory verse for the week:  1Cor. 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,