Sermon Devotional: Our Warnings

Scripture:  Jude 5-10 (ESV)

 
Living close to the Rocky Mountains, I have enjoyed going off road and seeing some amazing vistas and scenery. Last summer I traveled through Colorado and Wyoming in a Toyota 4x4 with a few friends. We camped. We climbed mountains and had a great time. Even though there were some difficult trails to conquer my 4x4 did well.  But I was careful and knew what my truck could do or not do.

The Christian walk is similar. Like my experience last summer, the Christian is called by Jesus to stay on the course, to know what you can or cannot do, and to not test the limits of his authority and instruction. Unfortunately, not every person who calls themselves a Christian has learned this lesson.

Jude is warning us about this very issue. As those saved by Jesus Christ, we are called to follow Him, to imitate Him and to do as He taught us. At end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. . . And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand” (Mt. 7:24,26). A house built on the unstable foundation of sand will inevitably fall into destruction. Jude was concerned that some people are living like fallen angels (v. 6), like the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7) and like unreasoning animals (v. 10). He is making a distinction from those who believe and follow Jesus, and those who do not believe and obey. He equates them with Cain, with Korah and ultimately, the Evil one (v. 9, 11) who did not believe God’s word or seek to obey God’s instructions. They followed their own passions and thereby, built their houses upon sand.  So where are you building your house?

Jude is also communicating that those who follow Jesus humbly seek to remain under God’s authority and are vigilant against following their worldly passions and desires. The archangel Michael remembers that it is God alone who judges evil. He says, “The Lord rebuke you” (v. 9) rather than speaking in his own authority as the highest of God’s angels. Michael’s response is in contrast to the devil who rebelled and rejected God’s authority. Jude is warning his readers that to reject God’s authority over their lives will lead to destruction. Which do you choose?

The world—the devil—tells us we can live without limits. We can follow our passions, and do what we want, when we want and how we want. Jude reminds his readers that they are “those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (v. 1). Our lives are not our own; we belong to Him. The beloved ones have all they need to stay the course and will seek to joyfully place themselves under God’s authority.

If I had driven my 4x4 recklessly in disregard of very real limits, I would never have finished my trip last summer. If I was driven only by a passion for adventure and for taking high-adrenalin trails that were not suitable, constantly pushing the limits of my 4x4, I would never have made it to the Big Horn Mountains. Remember who you are in Christ Jesus. Stay the course as you seek to walk faithfully according to God’s authority. Build your house on the Rock who is Jesus. Amen.

Consider—
╬      We are all under God’s authority we are called to trust God’s authority over our lives. When do you chafe at God’s authority? When does his “no” make you want to rebel and reject his limits? In humility, bring your rebellious heart to our loving God.

╬      Finitude means that we have boundaries to our physical, relational, and spiritual lives. Our days are just twenty-four hours long. No matter how many hours we wish them to be, each day has a God-given boundary. This finitude, these limits and boundaries, are a gift from the Lord. Give thanks to God for all of his set boundaries for your life. Where do you need a greater embrace of God’s boundaries and your own finitude?

╬      Holy and loving Father, teach us your ways and protect our hearts and minds from rebellion. It is too easy to live as the world lives. Help us to build our house on the firm foundation of the words and life of Jesus. Keep us for Christ Jesus that we may not reject you and your authority over our lives. May your grace be sufficient so that we learn to walk with humility. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.