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"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
(Jude 20-21)
Some people light up a room when they enter and others when they exit. Which one are you? Are you one that builds others up, or are you constantly tearing other people down? There is a lot of tearing down going on in our world, and it is not just limited to the secular arena or the dog-eat-dog world of politics. Unfortunately, there is way too much tearing down in the Body of Christ, the Church. I get it. I have been a pastor for many years and have witnessed firsthand the gossip and mean-spiritedness that plaques way too many churches.
Now back to you. Which one are you? Are you a builder or a destroyer? It really takes no effort or creativity to complain, gossip, and hurt another's reputation. The devil, who hates the Church of Jesus Christ, will tempt and do all in his power to cause harm and friction between you and other believers. So much harm can be done through that little instrument between our teeth called the tongue. However, so much good can be done as well. It all depends on the mind that feeds words to the tongue and lips to verbalize. Proverbs 18:21 says it so powerfully, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Jude 20-21 speaks to us as followers of Jesus in how we can be built up so that we can do the work of evangelism in verses 22-23. When you are built up then you will show up and speak up. The primary command in verse 20 is "Keep yourselves in the love of God." There is one imperative verb in our text with 3 imperative participles that modify or explain how we are to keep ourselves in the love of God. (All our devotions this week will be based on this powerful text from Jude.)
Building up is epoikodomeō, which means to build or to edify. The idea here is encouragement for the church. We as the church are to be building up and not tearing down. Acts 20:32 uses the same word: "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
Will you allow yourself to be built up even now? Remember God's love for you, His call on your life. I cannot stress or overstate the marvelous love God has for you. He is for you, not against you. He wants you to soar and enjoy this life He has given you. Also, I encourage you to associate with those who will build you up. Of course, good friends are those who lovingly tell us when we have messed up. But those same friends will gladly affirm you and remind you how God has uniquely made you in His image. You are one of a kind and a special treasure!
Now go and light up the room!
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