Contender

As many of you know I enjoy running as an healthy option for my lifestyle.  For the past decade I have been able to select the category of 40-49 as the age bracket when I sign up for any particular distance for a run. When selecting that category I knew, because of my lack of speed, I would not necessarily be a contender in my age group for any additional awards.  Well the other day I signed up for my first running event that asked the question “On the day of the event what age will you be?” 50. Just like that I moved up into a different age bracket! Yea me!!! Now in reality, even in this age bracket I will not be a contender for any awards, but there are always fewer participants in the 50-59 category and for just a moment while the participation numbers are low (for this event) I will be a contender in my age bracket. You never know, If I stay committed to my training, program and distance I could indeed contend for my age bracket all up to race day. The same has been said of our faith. When we spend time in the word, understand our position in Christ, and exercise our faith, we in turn with confidence can be a contender for the faith. 

This week I will begin a new series in the short 25 verse book of Jude. Jude begins the writing with an identification of himself. The introduction is as follows; “Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James: To those who are the called,  loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.” He sets himself apart as one that is purchased, called, loved and kept (protected). Do you identify yourself in such words? I may not always acknowledge that in my day to day life, but I need to recall that when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior I was then immediately purchased, called, loved and protected by God The Father. My salvation was bought with a price, Christ’s life on the cross. My calling was not that of a party invitation to accept or decline, rather is was an effectual calling indicating being selected for a certain task at a certain time. The love that Jude addresses in more encompassing than a John 3:16 type of love. Jude writes “Loved by God the Father.”  This is not the type of love for all of His creation, but rather an especially specific type of love for His children. I am in the love of The Father.  I am a child of God!. Jude introduced himself as such and I should aspire to present myself in the same way.

The church’s gathering purpose of the letter changes in verse 3 to be a reminder of the call of the church’s mission.  Rightly so the church should gather to celebrate the common salvation we share, but concern invaded Jude’s heart and thought. Rather than celebrating he changed his pen’s writing to share about the apostates (false teachers of the faith) and the need of the church to “contend for the faith.” He stated that our faith should be defended and delivered, basically I should know who I am in Christ as a follower and a believer. From this point forward in the letter we learn that Jude was concerned about the security of the believer, the grace of God, the Lordship of Christ, immoral living, unbelief, rebellious spirit, materialism, deception, divisiveness….hence his open charge “contend for the faith” 

Our perspective on being a follower should be that of Jude’s. What a joy to be a slave—a slave of a great Master, a King whose name is Jesus! He has purchased and called. He loves and protects. He showers his children with mercy and blesses them with peace. Because we are his, we have internal security in our hearts, external security in the world, and eternal security in heaven. Could anything be more wonderful than being a slave of such a great King? 

I look forward to be a contender of the faith with each one of you!

Serving Him,
Pastor Jeff