DEC 23

Jude
Memorise Jude 24-25
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling...”

At the end of a worship service, a benediction of God’s blessing is pronounced upon the worshippers in a congregation. Most epistles also end with a benediction. In Jude, this is found in the last two verses, Jude 24; 25. This benediction exalts God’s power for it is able to keep us till the very end. We are assured that God’s power will keep us from temptations until we see Him face to face. This strengthens the believer’s hope in God and to see Him in his glory with great joy. It also reminds us of the unsearchable wisdom of God who had sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Saviour. So the focus here is the love and salvation of the Heavenly Father. Some pastors have also agreed that the benediction is also a doxology. In a doxology, we give praise to God, in contrast to a benediction where we receive a blessing from God. Both are intertwined in Jude 24-25. There is praise directed towards God too. There is praise given to God for He preserves us by His power so that we do not fall away from the faith. We praise Him for His power to make us stand before Him with exceeding joy. It is not anything in us but entirely because of what God has done for us and because of His power we will stand at the last judgment day. Yes, we praise and adore Him for His great work of salvation in us. All praise to Him because He is worthy of all our praises.

Dearest teen, have you paid much attention to how you worship the Lord on the Lord’s Day? Do you prepare your heart to seek him? Do not come carelessly or as a matter of routine. You come before the only wise God, our Saviour to whom is all glory and majesty, dominion and power – from eternity to eternity. Prepare your heart, pray and come with reverence and awe before His majesty. If need be, sit with those who are serious in their worship of the Almighty God. Avoid frivolous conduct in a worship service. Come with praise in your heart and gratitude for all that He has done for you. Then when the benediction is given, thank God again that you have been blessed. Go in the strength of God’s blessings in the days and weeks ahead. That is how your spiritual life will grow day by day.

Thought: Learn that there are reasons for the things we do in our worship to God.
Prayer: Our only wise God and heavenly Father, in these dark days of apostasy, may Your power keep me from falling, and help me to be always defending and keeping the faith once delivered to the saints.