The Devotional – Fight the good fight of Faith (Part 5)

The Devotional – Fight the good fight of Faith (Part 5)

Comment: As a teenager I used to walk a lot, I was a caddy at the local golf course and spent my summer days walking the course. In the evening I would walk home, but after a while I was able to purchase a bike and coming home was made easier. Now the same applies to the morning, yet walking or riding in the morning was much different. The sunrise, at least for me felt safe while the sunset felt threatening, I dreaded to see the sun go down. While the morning light provides a sense of safety and security, the evening light produces a sense of danger and insecurity. Looking now to the LORD, the apostle John records an interesting conversation of Jesus about one week before He was crucified as the Lamb of God. A lengthily read; John 12:27-41. The LORD predicts His death and then the apostle John asks this question. “Who has believed our report?” The apostle uses some Old Testament references in Isaiah to assist his thoughts; Isaiah 53:1 and Isaiah 6:9-10. Is it not the most threatening thought to have your mind grow dull; so why do some become apostate and allow the Light to grow dim in their heart? 

Devotional: Jude 1:16-19 – Jude has already established that people who are apostate were once vital members of a church family who failed to maintain their gifted position in the church. Failure in position because they selfishly overstep the authoritative boundaries established by Christ who is the head of the church. The do this by complaining and having lustful behavior traits. Jude continues by predicting that these members of the church will not go away and are an ever present threat that can cause the Light of the gospel to be snuffed out of the church body.

Jude goes on to say that in order to keep apostasy from spreading within the church family, we are to remember the words which are spoken by the apostles of the LORD Jesus Christ. How they explained that in the last days, mockers would come (2 Peter 3:1-9; and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10). Therefore, in my mind this is not a case of just knowing about apostasy, but we ought to be actively aware of those who mock and cause dissension. 

Jude states clearly that these people do not have the Spirit of God, who willingly cause divisions within the congregation. So what does the Spirit of God look like in people? Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; against such there is no law”. Those who mock and cause dissensions can often fake the first six attributes of the Spirit of God, but they fail to be faithful, gentle and self-controlled; see Galatians 5:20.