JUN 8

Jude 1-3
Memorise 1 Timothy 4:1
“It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you…”

WHO MUST DEFEND THE FAITH?

The book of Jude is a book that warns strongly of the false teachers and apostles that will creep into the church. It also issues a strong clarion call that we must earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. We often hear this phrase over the pulpit, and hear the call to rise up and defend the faith. As youths in the church, do you take this call seriously? Or do we dismiss it and assume that it is something that our church leaders and the adults of the church ought to be involved in, but not us? Do we think that perhaps we are too young to have any role in the defense of the faith?

We must remember and realize that this letter was not just addressed to church leaders, but all Christians! Saints, who have been sanctified, preserved and called. Thus the whole gist of the letter, to contend for the faith and to know about the enemies to the faith is the responsibility of every Christian. In fact, Jude shares with the readers of how he first desired to write of the common salvation, perhaps to encourage them in their walk with the Lord, and instruct them more concerning the salvation that they had received. However, as he wrote, there was a compulsion, a burden from the Holy Spirit that moved him to shift to pen a more apologetical and polemical letter. He thus exhorts his readers to earnestly contend for the faith, and then explains why there is such a necessity, giving a brief description of ‘certain men’ who were attacking the faith. Jude understood the needs of the times, and thus wrote to all believers urging them to be serious about defending the faith.

As faithful believers who love God, we must have a care and concern for those who malign the name of Christ and deny our only Lord God. We are not to retreat into our shell and say that this is only for the leaders of the church to contend with. We cannot just relax in our pews and seek only words that touch and encourage our hearts and just desire the ‘feel good’ effects of God’s Word. We too must know and realize the significance of the whole counsel of God, and be willing to strive for it as well.

Thought: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15)
Prayer: Lord, pray that I’ll know Thy Word well so that I can defend Thy truth.