“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray 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. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. 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 1:17-25 NLT
The best defense is love. Jude tells us to build each other up, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, wait with hope for the mercy of Jesus at His coming, show mercy to those who are wandering, rescue those who have walked from Christ, and show even more mercy to those who are deliberately sinning. Strong mercy, deep love, and bold truth – this is how we follow Christ and protect each other. Often, we speak bold truth but don’t have strong mercy or gentle love that reaches out to those who are wandering from the Lord. At other times we try to show “acceptance” – but this is not mercy or truth. Mercy calls sin what it is, but patiently and with grace reaches out to others, loving them even if they will not choose to change.
Don’t run from the world – run to the world with God’s love, truth, and mercy. Evaluate your own life with the same. God has filled us with His Spirit and strength so that we can reach out and fill the earth with His mercy.
How are love, mercy, and truth the best defense against false teaching? Do you struggle more with speaking truth or being loving and merciful?
