Jude 1-2 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

 

The Book of Jude consists of only 25 verses of Scripture. Written by Jude, who was the half-brother to Jesus and full brother to James.

 

Jude could have very well mentioned the fact that he was a blood relative of Jesus, but he waived that opportunity because he found more honor in being His servant. To be the servant of Jesus Christ was Jude’s description of himself. This was first and foremost in how Jude described who he was.

 

This is an example for every born again Christian. When asked, “Who are you?” what would your answer be? In whom do we find our identity? To what bloodline do we belong?

 

The Bible clearly states to be truly saved one must be born again. This would imply that we are no longer of the same blood line we were naturally born into. That would be the “old self” spoken about by the great Apostle Paul and Jesus. To put off the old self and take on the new, is to be truly born again.

 

This is not something that is automatically done FOR us by God but is voluntarily done by each of us for ourselves. It comes with our understanding that we are a sinner and in need of a Savior. On our own, without Jesus, although we may be born with a silver spoon in our mouth to a multi-millionaire, we are a pitiful mess headed for eternity in Hell. This understanding brings us to a willingness and a sincere desire to be changed because we don’t want to not go on any longer the way we are.

 

At this point we can begin to understand the power of Christ within us; that without Him, we are nothing. Then and only then, will we determine ourselves to be, not the son or daughter of so and so, but a servant of Jesus Christ.

 

Anything short of this can be likened to those in the Church at Laodicea. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.(Revelation 3:15-16)

 

Let us not be lukewarm, but let us be on fire for our Lord! Let us not identify ourselves as the son or daughter of a famous man, or the brother or sister of someone, but let us identify ourselves, as Jude did: a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ! Bought and paid for by the Blood He shed on the Cross of Calvary!

 

Praise God! He can……..turnthetide

 

His servant,           Doreen

 

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