TWO BUILDING BLOCKS FOR OUR FAITH: GOD’S LOVE AND HOW WE PRAY

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the 
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 
(Jude 1:21)

MEDITATION:
When we are told to “keep ourselves in God’s love”, 
it could be referring to ‘our love for Him’ or ‘His love for us’.
Rather than debate which one is meant, 
it appears the underlying message is for us to live a life that pleases God.

How does that benefit us?
When our efforts are to please God, we will naturally love Him more, 
and as a result, we can rise above the irritations of life 
because in spite of them, we know that God loves us.
It also means that we are diligent 
about giving a high priority to certain things in our lives.

The scriptures tells us to ‘pray in the Holy Spirit’ 
and to ‘build up our faith’.
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith 
and praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20)
How is ‘praying in the Holy Spirit’ different than any other type of praying?

I believe that when we pray ‘in the Spirit’, 
we pray ‘believing’ as opposed to ‘hoping’.
Why? Because we know that when we pray ‘in the Spirit’, we are praying 
for the right things, and not out of a selfish or self-centered heart.
Since the two are ‘connected’ in this verse, it seems 
that ‘praying in the Spirit’ is one of the ways to ‘build our faith’.

‘Praying in the Spirit’ shows 
we are genuinely concerned about the salvation of others.
We are also desperate to see them saved from eternal condemnation.
Because we understand their doubts (we had them ourselves before we were 
saved), we are sensitive to the opportunities God provides for us 
to gently (mercifully) and compassionately share with them 
how He has saved us and changed our lives forever.
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; 
to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained 
by corrupted flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)

Love is an emotion or feeling in action, which can soothe the discouraged 
and lonely feelings which contend for control of our minds and emotions.
Be thankful for the love of God that heals us from a myriad of illnesses. 
We all want to ‘feel’ the love from others, 
and we all ‘need’ the love from God.
His love sustains us until the Lord escorts us into an eternal life with Him.

A husband and wife visited an orphanage where they hoped to adopt a child. 
In an interview with the boy they wanted, they told him in glowing terms 
about the many things they could give him. 
To their amazement the little fellow said, 
“If you have nothing to offer except a good home, clothes, toys, and 
the other things that most kids have—why, I would just as soon stay here.” 
“What on earth could you want besides those things?” the woman asked. 
“I just want someone to love me” replied the little boy. 

Even a little boy knew that “man shall not live by bread alone”. 
Our deeper yearnings and longings can be met only by 
a renewed fellowship with the One in whose image we were created - God.

ACTION:
How often do you ‘pray in the Spirit’ for the salvation of others?
I have heard stories of people faithfully praying 
for the salvation of another person.
They could have given up after a few years, but they did not, and after 
many years of prayer, the other person invited the Lord into their life.
You should never impose a time limit 
on how often you pray for the salvation of others.

As you contemplate the magnitude of God’s love for you, 
you should be motivated to freely express your love for Him, and for others.
God’s love is not a ‘feel good’ phrase, but it is a genuine reality 
that everyone needs to experience in their lives; without it, 
a huge void remains that cannot be filled from any other source.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me. Your love never ceases to
amaze me, especially in the light of my failures to live a life that is 
pleasing to You. I pray that as I think about these scriptures in Jude, I 
will have a renewed desire and effort to live a life pleasing to You, which 
includes having a greater love for You, and for others. Create in me a 
burning desire to see others saved, and to remember the obstacles I had 
to overcome in order to invite You into my own life. Help me to love 
others as You love me. I praise and love You, my heavenly Father.”

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