Not What I Want to Talk About

Scripture: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Jude 1:3

Observation: 2,000 years ago, Jude was writing a letter, wanting to talk happily with fellow believers about the joy of their salvation. Instead, he was "compelled" to write an open letter about individuals who were using faith as a "license for immorality", denying Jesus ... ungodly people who were polluting their bodies - scoffers following their own desires.

Application: This is happening every day! On Sunday, our pastor scrapped his entire sermon and wrote a new one starting at 3:30 a.m. that very morning. Even for me today ... I have SO been looking forward to Isaiah, wanting to see the prophesies about Jesus, and there they are at the beginning of chapter 4 ("in that time" being a new time ... seven women wanting to take one husband being the church as the bride of Jesus and aligned to the seven lampstands of Revelation ... the beautiful branch of the lord being the shoot/branch of Jesse, Jesus ... the lord will bring a spirit of fire into Jerusalem being the holy spirit arriving at Pentecost ...). But instead, we're back to focusing on the issues of the day.

Why? Well, to follow Jude's example, we don't get to always revel in the joy of our salvation, but sometimes we have to do the work to which we are called. Jude was called to write a letter, but instead of addressing the joy he wanted to discuss, he addressed sins of the flesh that were occurring within the church and thus corrupting a right understanding of forgiveness, salvation, and faith.

We may want to retreat as a church, enjoy fellowship, and pray for Jesus to come. However, we are probably called to continue to witness to society about the love of Jesus. We are called to be strong in faith, but gentle in language. We want to resign others to hell while we worship with joyful hearts, but we are called to be slow to judge, slow to anger, abounding in love. We are to be peacemakers who will be persecuted anyway, and we can't do either of those closed away in a sanctuary.

It has been a week, and I am ready to engage in conversations when the need arises. I am ready to answer questions with love, patience, and kindness. I am ready to correct without judging, focused on the singular message of Jesus as Messiah and savior through faith alone. I am ready to be scoffed and scorned, while I return humble kindness mixed with truth.

This is NOT what I want to talk about, but I will do whatever I am called to do.

Prayer: Lord, not mine by thy will be done! I would so love to be able to wash my hands and move on from this place and from these people. However, I doubt that my work here is done, for I know you have placed me here for your work. So I will abide in this place, claiming it for you, and ready to be an ever-brightening light in this ever-darkening corner of the world. Thy will be done!! Amen.