Called, Loved, and Kept

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (v1). 

Have you ever been to a huge shindig and wonder why you were invited? You know, one of those parties for the pretty people. Limos. Red carpets. Flashbulbs. You continue to keep an eye out for security because you know that you’re not supposed to be here. My wife and I found ourselves in that situation several years ago. We were invited to a big wedding. No, it was a HUGE wedding. Actually, it was more like a coronation. The only thing missing was a military flyover when the couple exited the cathedral. One look around the church led us to wonder what in the wide world of sports are we doing here. We were surrounded by the rich, the powerful, and the famous. Let’s be very clear about one thing. We are none of these. Yet, we had an invitation.

In the opening verse of his letter, Jude writes “to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (1). We’ll see that God has extended an incredible invitation to the folks on the receiving end of his note. The only thing crazier is the fact that they’ve accepted! God invites them because He loves them. Because He loves them, He will protect them. Called. Loved. Kept. Jesus invites us to join Him for the most incredible throw down the universe has ever seen. He invites you because He loves you. And because He loves you, He will protect you. This is one invitation we just can’t turn down!

We’re called. We’re loved. We’re kept.

First of all, the Jesus’ kid brother sends his letter to folks who have already received an earlier invitation. “To those who are called” (v1). He uses the Greek adjective kletos. This is someone who has accepted and invitation, a member of a select group, or urgently summoned and welcomed. God has divinely selected you and me to be part of an exclusive club. Once we tear open the envelope, we need to RSVP to the Host. God’s invitation grants us incredible benefits. The invitation is useless if we don’t take advantage of the privilege. Don’t toss it in the trash like a piece of junk mail. Respond to His invitation. Attend the party. You don’t want to miss it.

The Apostle Paul knows all about being on God’s guest list. He describes himself to the friends in Rome as “called (Gr. kletos) to be an apostle” (Rom 1:1), serving those “called (Gr. kletos) to belong to Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:6), and writing to those “called (Gr. kletos) to be saints” (Rom 1:7). Later in that same amazing letter, the apostle blows the doors off the joint when he tells us what God promises to do for those who have accepted His divine invitation. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called (Gr. kletos) according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). Yeah, don’t ignore God’s invitation. This is going to be one heck of a party.

Maybe you’re like my wife and me and wonder why in world anyone would request your presence at such an exclusive event. Well, Jude lets us in on why we’re invited. It’s because we’re “beloved” (v1). He tells us that our heavenly Dad is one doing the loving. We need to remember that the love of God isn’t simply a warm and fuzzy fondness for us. His love is never just an ooey-gooey feeling that He never expresses. His agape love is a love in action. It’s a love that does. It’s a love that can’t sit still. The Father has to do something about it. And He did. He proved His love for the world by sending His one and only Son for us. He sent Jude’s big Brother to live the perfect life that I completely failed to live. To die the bloody and brutal death for me that I should have died. To rise to a new life that I absolutely do not deserve. God loves us. And He proves it by loving us through His Son. He invites us because He loves us.

Third, Jude writes to those who are “kept for Jesus Christ” (v1). Jesus’ kid brother uses a verb (Gr. tereo) that means to watch over, preserve, guard, and protect. This exclusive party needs the best security. It doesn’t take too much squinting at the original text to read this as “kept by Jesus Christ.” So which one is it? I don’t think we have to choose. Jesus keeps us. And He keeps us for Himself. Once we RSVP to His loving invitation, the Son of God provides personal protection to each one of His guests. You can relax. Nobody’s getting in that He doesn’t allow in. Let’s be clear of one thing. His protection does NOT mean that His party will be all rainbows and unicorns. On this side of eternity, it’s going to get nasty at times. Jesus Himself promised that this world will be full of trouble. But we can be sure that our Savior has overcome our fallen world (Jn 16:33). Life may get hard, but Jesus reassures us that He’ll always be right there to the very end of the party (Mt 28:20). He invites us because He loves us. And because He loves us, He’ll protect us.

We’re called. We’re loved. We’re kept. Let’s make sure to RSVP to His invitation.