A Prayer for Remembering the Riches of Our Identity as Believers
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: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1-2 (ESV)
Dear heavenly Father, the back-story to these opening words, in the little book of Jude, is as encouraging as this remarkable salutation. Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, didn’t grow up realizing (or believing) Jesus was anything more than a sibling with whom he played, did household chores, and broke bread. Like many of us, Jude appreciated Jesus long before he worshipped him. He came to realize that Jesus was your Son long before he was Mary’s son. Thank you, Father, for rescuing Jude, and us, from a nice, but woefully incomplete knowledge of Jesus.
For through Jesus’ finished work, you have called us from the grave into newness of life. You literally spoke the word, and we came alive in Christ—no longer dead in our sin and trespasses. We would have never chosen you if you hadn’t first chosen and called us to yourself. We praise you for your sovereign mercy and power, Father.
And now, alive in Christ, we are beloved in your sight. May the name “beloved in God the Father,” trump and mute other names with which we have been branded through the years. When you look at us, you always delight and you always say of us, “My Beloved”. May this good news free us to live and love to your glory, until we take our last breath in this world.
Speaking of last breaths, we bless and adore you, Father, that we are both kept by Jesus and for Jesus. Our current standing in grace will segue into an eternal dancing in grace, when your send Jesus back for his Bride. May such radical grace compel and propel us out of our self-preoccupation, unto neighbor love and service. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
