But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith praying in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. Jude 20-21
Heavenly Father, it’s minus 6 degrees in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and I’ll soon be peering over a fresh-cut whole in the ice, hoping for a Walleye, Perch, or Northern Pike. That’s awesome, but more awesome is the gift of being in the home of friends who get, need, and rest in the Gospel.
I’m more convinced than ever of the need to walk with a Gospel-posse—with friends committed to building each other up in the riches of the Gospel, praying together with the Spirit’s passion, living with a view to Jesus’ return, and constantly marinating in the wonders of your love. Thank you for friends who smell like grace, love mercy, and walk humbly and joyfully with you.
As friends, each of us goes through challenging seasons. Some of us face faith challenges—our first-love passion for Jesus getting tested by difficult providences, heart-deflating suffering, or unexpected transitions. We drift into stretches of busyness and “muchness.”
Health, “kiddo,” and old heart-wound issues emerge. In the Gospel, you call us to love each other well, no matter the scenario or season. Friends love in every season—even when life gets messy.
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. Jude 24-25
This is our hope, peace, and joy. You are able to keep us from falling away and bring us Home safely, Father. We’re already fully accepted and perfectly blameless in Jesus—who is our righteousness and holiness. Hallelujah! May we love well until the Day of all things new. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ holy and beautiful name.
