12/04/2011 - Preserved in Jesus Christ

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“Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1)

Why do we make mistakes and then suffer? The Bible teaches us that it happens due to our lack of biblical knowledge. Jesus didn’t do everything the right way by chance; after all, He mastered the Word of God and He paid heed to its commandments.

In the days of His ministry, Christ said that we make mistakes for not mastering the Scriptures or the divine power (Matthew 22:29). It’s unbelievable but though that statement came out of our Master’s mouth, none of us is highly impacted by it and probably nobody has ever used such declaration as the central theme of their prayers. Instead, many are waiting for an angel’s visit with a message from God telling them what to do. But He’s already done that! So, those who want to be successful must examine what is written in the Sacred Book; we can find in IT all the instructions we need to be successful.

The reason why Jesus was successful in all the things He did was the fact that He dedicated Himself unreservedly to the Holy Word. He knew that the promises recorded in there were addressed to Him. Now, our faith will be as powerful as Jesus’ and we’ll certainly see the divine power operating in our favor if we value the Bible as He did.

Prophet Hosea said that the people of God suffer for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). He blamed the priests for not paying heed to that fact; that’s why they were destroyed. It’s good to remember that all of us have been made priests (Revelation 5:10). So, when we blame someone for our lack of knowledge we’re actually incurring in two errors, after all we are the ones to blame for that. We must turn to the Holy Scriptures and in doing so we’ll be readily instructed by the Lord.

Dear brethren, there is no reason whatsoever for you to get desperate or to follow the devil’s deceitful guidance according to which you should not believe in God or serve Him any longer. That’s exactly what Satan wishes to hear from you so he’ll be able to finish his destructive work which has been affecting your faith for quite some time. Wake up! We’re the dearest ones of our Father, we’re His beloved children; He’s a Father that always answers all of His Children’s prayers. Well, what else do we lack?

And there are more of Jude’s revelations! What was written by the author of this book – who was used by God to write one of the shortest and yet highly important books of the Bible – is everything we need in order to not let the enemy cause us harm, i.e.: we’re preserved in Jesus. What a tremendous statement! Do you really think the devil can ever get in Christ’s way? Of course not! Likewise, he doesn’t have the power to touch us unless we give the devil a foothold due to our not mastering the Scriptures.

Jesus prayed this way to the Almighty God before leaving: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. [ …] But now I come to You, […] I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:12-15). Christ asked the Most High to preserve His children, therefore our Father – the One who always responds to the prayers of His beloved Son – always preserves us in Jesus.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares