Reflections with Andy - Jude 1: 17-25 – Mercy

We are saved by God’s mercy. We are to live out that mercy, every day of our lives.

In this Tuesday reflection that closes out Jude, the letter’s final movement is from warning to mercy. Jude tells his readers to remember what the apostles predicted — scoffers will come, driven by their own desires, causing division — but then pivots immediately to the posture of the faithful: build yourselves up in faith, pray in the Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love, and look forward to the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal life. And then, critically, show that mercy to others — the wavering, the wandering, even those caught in sin. The reflection weaves in two personal life verses — Romans 8:28, which doesn’t say all things are good but that God brings good from everything, and Romans 2:4, which says it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance — to make the central point: we are not saved by our goodness, but by God’s mercy. And since mercy is God’s very nature, and we are being made into his image, mercy should increasingly be ours too. The world is full of people who need to know they are loved. That is our call.

Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God’s Word.

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Good morning! Great to be with you on this Tuesday as we wrap up Jude together. Today we finish the letter — verses 17 through 25. Then tomorrow we’re making a pretty significant shift. After all this time in the New Testament epistles, we’re heading into the wisdom literature and starting with Ecclesiastes. Should be quite the change of pace. Also, a scheduling note: I’ll be doing Rooted through the end of May, then taking June off for the transition to Starkville — last Sunday at Saint Matthew’s, a few weeks to breathe, and then getting on the ground up there. I’ll be back in July, and my plan is to keep Rooted going from Starkville. We’re not done yet — but I wanted you to know what’s coming.

Let’s read:

“But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.’ It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Let me start at the end and work backward, because that closing benediction deserves a moment.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing — to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Most of us have heard a version of that at the end of a church service. I was talking with Mary Beth, our youth pastor, about her benediction for the baccalaureate service Sunday, and it made me think about how every pastor tends to develop their own. Mine has been the same for essentially my entire ministry — the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you each now and forevermore.That’s actually a biblical quotation — I couldn’t tell you the reference off the top of my head, but it’s in Scripture — and I heard it every Sunday from Brother Bill Poole, the preacher of my childhood. It just lodged in my heart, and now every Sunday as I walk down the aisle with the acolytes, that’s what comes out. It’s just in me.

Jude’s closing benediction is a beautiful one too — a blessing and a prayer woven together. A prayer that God would keep us from falling and help us stand before his glory without blemish. A praise that all glory and majesty and power and authority belong to him, before all time and forever. If you’ve ever heard that one in church, now you know where it comes from.

Now, back to verses 17 through 23. Jude’s final word of warning mirrors everything he’s said throughout the letter: remember what the apostles told you. There will be scoffers. There will be people devoid of the Spirit, driven by their own desires, causing division. Don’t be surprised when they show up. You were warned.

But then notice where Jude lands: build yourselves up on your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, and look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And then — show mercy. Have mercy on those who are wavering. Snatch others from the fire. Show mercy with fear to still others, hating the sin while reaching for the person.

Mercy. That’s where it ends. And I think that’s exactly right.

Someone asked me at Bible study recently what my favorite verse in Scripture is. I always joke that my favorite verse is whatever I’m currently reading, and people always call me on it. But I really do have two life verses. One is Romans 8:28 — all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. I love that verse because it doesn’t say all things are good — there’s plenty in life that isn’t good, plenty of real brokenness. But it says God can bring good from everything. That’s a different and much more honest claim, and I find it deeply sustaining.

The other is Romans 2:4 — do you not know that it is the kindness of God that leads you to repentance? It’s God’s mercy that draws us. It’s God’s mercy that saves us. It’s God’s mercy that restores us and gives us life. We are not saved by our own goodness, our own strength, our own virtue. We are saved by his mercy. That is what leads to eternal life. That’s it.

And here’s the natural consequence: since God has shown us mercy, we are to show mercy to others. The goal of our faith is to be made more like Jesus — and if God’s very nature is mercy, and we are being made into his image, then mercy should increasingly be our nature too. There’s a world full of people right now who need to know they are loved. Who need to know there is a God who is for them and a church that cares about them. That is our call, our purpose, our mission.

So as you go about your day today, ask yourself: where can I show mercy? Who needs grace from me right now? Be the merciful one in whatever situation you find yourself in. Because that is what the world is hungry for, and that is what we have been given to give.

May God keep us from falling and help us stand. To him be all the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Tomorrow we start Ecclesiastes — quite a different direction, but a great one. Have a wonderful day!