Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James—to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1-2 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, what a gospel-saturated identity Jude gives us, as he begins his brief letter. How we think about ourselves impacts every aspect of our lives. Many voices clamor relentlessly to give us the wrong identity, and we are too easily influenced.
What a difference it would make if we believed ourselves to be “called, beloved, and kept.” By your Spirit, take us further up and further into the riches of these three glorious affirmations.
Through Jesus’ finished work, you have called us from the grave into newness of life. You didn’t just invite us; you subpoenaed us right out of our spiritual death. You literally spoke the word, and we came alive in Jesus, and are now sitting with him in heavenly places.
No longer dead in our sin and trespasses, we are now fully forgiven and righteous in Christ. It’s humbling to admit, but true—we would never have chosen you if you hadn’t first chosen and called us to yourself. Thank you for your sovereign mercy and might, Father
And now, alive in Christ, we are beloved in your sight and heart. May the name “beloved in God the Father,” trump and mute other names with which we have been branded through the years. May this good news free us to live and love to your glory, until we take our last breath in this world.
Speaking of last breaths, we bless and adore you, Father, that we are both kept by Jesus and for Jesus. Our current standing in grace will segue into an eternal dancing in grace, when Jesus returns for his Bride. Until that Day, may your mercy, peace, and love increase in our lives, for the blessing of those with whom we live, work, and play. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
