Jude 1:20-21 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

I have heard verse 20 used many times as instructions to pray in tongues, but I think that misses the focus. I personally happen to be somewhat in the position of Paul that he expressed in 1 Corinthians 14:18, but I think that focusing on that here misses the overall point, which is essentially the same as Philippians 2:12, which says that we are to “work out our salvation.” I happened to preach on “Progressive Salvation” on June 21st, and this would have been a good Scripture to use. The thing is, as Jesus explained so clearly in the Parable of the Talents, (Matthew 25) we are responsible for what we do with what we are given, be that time, ability, financial resources, or whatever. Here Jude is focusing on faith and the love of God. We are responsible for what we do with those, too! We are to seek to grow in faith, choosing to trust God when the devil tempts us to deny Him, and we are to choose to abide in the love of God. How do we do that? Jesus stated it very clearly: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:9-10) As any parent of a 2-year-old will tell you, obedience is a choice. We can see that in children, but as adults we tend to forget it for ourselves. Actually, that’s choosing not to obey, just as a little child whose favorite word is “NO!” God wants us to grow, as good stewards of all that He has provided for us. That happens only by His grace, mercy and power, but it happens a lot more and a lot faster if doing so is our conscious choice.

This is certainly something I can confirm from personal experience! I’ve learned the hard way that thinking you’re already mature is no way to grow, and that thinking you’ve got everything together is no way to receive God’s supply. I am indeed to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, as He told me to, but at the same time I am to be applying everything I have toward getting closer to Him, to being more available, more transparent, more useful. That’s part of the paradox of the Gospel (which was my sermon title on the 7th). I’ve been given the privilege of teaching others, and I must not take it lightly. I must not forget that “We who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) I am to teach and encourage each believer to recognize what they have been given and apply it fully, for their own benefit and the benefit of those around them and for God’s glory.

Father, You know better than I do that I’ve not been the best steward of all that You have poured out on me over the years. Help me continue to grow in every area so that I may be a child fully pleasing to You, for Your glory indeed. Thank You. Praise God!