Jude 1:8-25 Niv

For Reading and Meditation:     John 12:20-33

The love for God that burns in our hearts must never be seen as the fruit of our labor, as if it is something we manufacture. Seeing the love of God for us, our own heart responds with love. We give love for love. We cannot help it. Let's be done with the idea that love for God is something we work at. It issues forth...

For Reading and Meditation:     Jude 1:1-16

What makes the Christian faith different from every other faith? Prince Charles, who is next in line to the British throne, has let it be known that if and when he becomes king he would like to be regarded as Defender of all faiths rather than Defender of the faith - the Christian faith. Living now as we do in a...

For Reading and Meditation:     Philippians 1:3-11

We saw yesterday how the psalmist sensed that despite his doubts and failures he was still accepted by God. But there's more - he realises also that God's restraining hand has been constantly with him: "You hold me by my right hand" (Psalm 73:23). What was it, after...

This implies that we are beloved of God, and that we know it, and love Him in return. That we should endeavour to retain our standing, and keep ourselves sensibly in the love of God, by setting it always before our minds; exercising our faith on it; and seeking the enjoyment of it by prayer and in the Lord's ways.

We should keep ourselves in the exercise of love to God, by avoiding temptations, walking by faith, and living as in His presence. We should keep ourselves in the exercise of...

Mark the union of the Three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity; who think of Jesus as if he were the embodiment of everything lovely and gracious, while the Father they regard as severely just, but destitute of kindness. Equally wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father, and the atonement of the Son, so as to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In deeds of grace none of the Persons of...

You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. § Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory. § The mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all...

You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. § Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.He made us accepted in the Beloved.As living stones … built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I beseech you therefore,...

I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins. § I have given help to one who is mighty. § I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. § Mighty to save. § Able to keep you from stumbling. § Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. § He is also able to save to the uttermost those who...

Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean. § Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. § [Hate] even the garment defiled by the flesh.Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is...

[Jesus], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. § [He] is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory.Seeing … that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who...