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, what a gospelicious salutation Jude gives us; and it’s even more special when we realize that Jude, like many of us, appreciated Jesus long before he worshipped him. Though, like Jesus, Jude was Mary’s son, Jude didn’t realize Jesus was your Son until after our Savior’s resurrection. Thank you, Father, for rescuing Jude, and us, from a nice, but woefully inadequate knowledge of Jesus. Now we know ourselves to be called, beloved, and kept. Hallelujah, many times over!
Through Jesus’ finished work, you have called us from the grave into newness of life; you subpoenaed us right out of death. You literally spoke the word, and we came alive in Christ—no longer dead in our sin and trespasses, we are now fully forgiven and righteous in Christ. 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 love compel and propel us out of our self-absorption, unto neighbor love and kingdom service. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
