Today we’ll be looking at Jude 24-25:
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Before we dig into some application points, a quick story about this passage. My dad performed Cara’s and my wedding ceremony, and used this as the benediction. We did things a little differently at our wedding and had my dad facing us with his back to the crowd. As he was reading this benediction he was backing up to get out of the way for the recessional and didn’t notice my niece running behind him, so as he said “to keep you from stumbling” he stumbled over my niece! It was a great moment, and then got passed around at his office!
Jude began this letter wishing to write about the “common salvation” given to all believers (vs. 3), but instead he had to remind them to not give up their faith. He then reminds the believers where they have come from and encourages them to not give up. Yet in the midst of our daily struggles and difficulties, we begin with a promise in this doxology: that God alone is able to keep us from stumbling. I’m guessing most, if not all of you, have stubbed your toes before. You can be mindlessly walking along, minding your own business, when a chair jumps and trips you and it hurts like the dickens! Because God knows everything, He alone is able to prevent us from tripping and stumbling over the trials and temptations that are guaranteed to come our way. But He not only keeps us from stumbling, He also is able to “present you blameless.” We’ve read a number of passages together over the past month plus that talk about how God’s righteousness is given to us. Isn’t it incredible to read that we are blameless? No blame can be found in us. I know I never feel that way! I sin every day, yet God’s grace is enough for all of that. That’s what we get, but then Jude reminds us who God is.
This blamelessness and ability to keep us from stumbling is only true because Jesus has: glory, majesty, dominion, and authority forever. Jesus is given glory and we must glorify Him with everything we do. (John Piper has written a wonderful devotion on this very topic HERE.) He is also given majesty (which makes me think of THIS SONG). The dictionary says this is royal power. This is a reminder that Jesus is on His throne and nothing can thwart His plans! This also ties in to his dominion. This is Jesus’ sovereignty. He is in charge of everything! And lastly authority. He not only has the power to enact His perfect plan, He also has the authority to bring it about. He is seated on His throne and He is in complete control! And the best part? This has been true from eternity past and will be true into eternity! So not even a virus can work outside of His perfect plans!
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Pastor Mike's Musings 
비트카지노 쿠폰
/ May 8, 2020Fantastic post but I was wondering if you
could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further.
Bless you!