July 1: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3

(Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

Scripture: Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Observation: Jude was planning to write to the church about the wonderful salvation we share, but things came to his attention that changed his mind. There were people in the church who were twisting the truth. They were saying that since God is so full of grace, we have a free license to keep on sinning. God will just keep on forgiving. Then Jude gives several examples of people who started out right, but changed along the way.

Application: There is an aspect of life that is a battle and I must fight to remain true to the scriptures. The examples in the book of Jude make it clear that it is not that I said the sinner’s prayer 10, 20, or 50 years ago; it is about how I am living now and how I finish my race. I must continue. I cannot change God’s grace into permission to continue living in sin. Confession (agreeing with the truth of sin in my life) without repentance (turning away from the sin in my life) is just playing games with God. That is not a good thing to do!

Prayer: Lord, You are not playing games with me and you do not want me playing games with you. May sin be as terrible to me as it is to you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!