Get in Position

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (v21).

In football, coaches come up with defensive strategies to put their players in the right spots to stop the opposition. Their goal is to devise a blitz or a coverage that will allow their team to make a play. When everything goes as planned, their players will be exactly where they need to be in order to make the tackle, get the sack, or pick off the pass. They’re putting them in a position to make a play. Jude tells his readers what they need to do and where they need to be to experience God’s love. And when we do, we’d better get ready because it’s going to be amazing.

Don’t forget the entire reason that Jesus’ kid brother is writing this little letter. A crew of spiritual con artists are infiltrating local churches and twisting the Gospel of Jesus into a pretzel (Jude 4). They don’t give a rat’s rear end about God’s people but are looking to bilk a few bucks out of them. He compares them to three of the nastiest characters in the Old Testament. Cain the first killer, Balaam the profitable prophet, and Korah the leader of the revolution (Jude 11). After giving an extensive ABP on the false teachers, Jude preps Jesus’ followers for their arrival. Build yourselves up. Pray in God’s Spirit. Expect our Savior’s return. That will lock you into position to receive His love.

The author gives us what seems to be a very strange command. “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (v21). But what just a New York minute! I thought there was absolutely nothing that can stop God’s love for us (Rom 8:35-39). So that can’t be what he’s talking about. Jude commands us to “keep” (v21). This is the Greek verb tereo. Check out the deeper meanings of this term. To observe, obey, pay attention to, attend carefully, take care of, guard, hold, and maintain. We can’t lose God’s love because we didn’t earn God’s love (Rom 5:8; 1Jn 4:19).

Jesus’ little brother encourages us to be in position to fully experience God’s love. Do everything you can to stay under the waterfall of God’s love and grace. Do everything possible to enjoy the blessings of His loving relationship with you. This is what Paul and Barnabas told new believers on their first road trip. After the apostle’s legendary sermon to the people of Pisidia in Asia Minor, he and Barney “urged them to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). Jesus Himself told His posse to do everything possible to stay connected to Him. He told them to picture the way a branches stay connected to the life-giving nourishment of the grapevine (Jn 15:1-11). 

Explore and take full advantage of the salvation that Jesus has give you. Or as the Apostle Paul would say, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). Despite what I believed for years, I don’t have to keep myself saved after Jesus has saved me. That lie I nearly crippled me for decades. I thought that once Christ got me into God’s kingdom, it was up to me to stay there. It wasn’t long that I was working my tail off to stay saved. Sunday school. Bible school. Youth choir. I was a miserable failure. It was religion. But Jesus wants a relationship. Years later, He opened my eyes to His amazing friendship. While I still struggle WAY too often, I’m continually doing whatever I can to keep myself in God’s love. I do what I can to put myself in a position to receive and experience His love.

In verses 20 and 21, Jude gives us a series of commands. Build yourselves up. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Stay in the love of God. Wait for Jesus’ mercy. So what’s the priority? Which should I do first? Glad you asked. The main verb here is “keep.” The other commands simply modify it. Think of it this way, the others give us important ways to put ourselves in position to be on the receiving end of His love. “Keep” is modified by “building up,” “praying,” and “waiting.” Build each other up in this trusting relationship through God’s Word. Pray to God using the amazing power of God’s Spirit. Wait with expectancy for Jesus’ amazing comeback. Build up. Pray. Wait. These are three critical activities we can do to put ourselves in the position to stay on the receiving end of God’s love. 

Whatever you do, don’t forget that Jesus is coming back. He’s returning for the greatest encore the universe will ever see. When He does, Christ will judge evil once and for all. He’ll drench everyone who trusts in Him with unbelievable blessings. We’ll be on the receiving end of His grace and mercy. A huge part of that is the full reality of eternal life. Don’t let the false teachers fool you. Jesus will return. Hang in there. And when He does…look out! It’s gonna be AWESOME!!! Talk about delayed gratification! 

In the meantime, put yourself in position to receive and experience the full blessing of God’s love.