by Jude 1:20-21 instructs us how to “keep yourselves in the love of God.” If we have the love of God in salvation (John 3:16) and know we have the love of God after salvation (1 John 3:16-18), we must keep in the love of God in such a way to impact a lost world. Jude gives us 3 points, we will illustrate 0with marriage. A husband and wife love each other without a doubt, however, they must keep themselves in the love of each other by expressing their love. How? Loving the things the other loves … doing loving things … saying “I love you” … being emotional and compassionate. This is a visible expression that is witnessed by the world. The same is with the love of God that is in us.
- Keeping in the Love of God by “building up yourselves on your most holy faith.” In marriage, we keep in our love by building on that day we said, “I do.” The first thing we built with was gold, silver, precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Cost was no concern as we expressed our love with a ring that was the best we could give, chosen to last a lifetime! Is the love of God worth any less than our gold, silver, precious stones best for our spouse?
- Keeping in the Love of God by “praying in the Holy Ghost.” In marriage, we keep in our love by communicating with each other from that day we said, “I do.” When it comes to communication with God, how often, like men in the marriage, we are the worst at it? God understands the fallacies of each party in a marriage, after all, He created us and He walked in our flesh. His instruction to pray comes with the needed ingredient, the Holy Ghost (Romans 8:26). When our flesh is weak, according to Paul, “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.” Likewise, when our spirit is weak, “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.”
- Keeping in the Love of God by “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” In marriage, we keep in our love by longing for each other after that day we said, “I do.” In Jude, every creature of God has something to look forward to. Fallen angels look forward to “everlasting chains under darkness” (1:6). Religious men look forward to “the blackness of darkness for ever” (1:11-13). Ungodly men look forward to “judgment” (Jude 1:14-15). The saved look forward to “eternal life” (1:20-21). When our final day arrives, praise God, the last greatest display of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ will take place when those who have the love of God hear Him say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:34).
The only way the world will see the love of God in us is if we are expressing His love by building, praying and looking. Since every creature of God is looking forward to something, lets make sure we keep God’s love in front of them for eternity’s sake.
