“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. (Jude 17-21)
Hopefully you are reading this early on this blessed Saturday morning, long before evil has a chance to invade your thoughts and prior to receiving one call or a single text message from one of “these people” referred to by Jude in the passage above. By “these people,” think of those who follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. Remember the things you have been taught. Remember that we have been warned to look out for those who refuse to acknowledge the Lord as God! Remember “these people” will get into things that are not God directed, not God approved, and are not God pleasing. “These people” are just going to do whatever they feel like doing later in the day or later on this Saturday night since they just got paid; doing whatever pleases self and they will be seeking to saturate themselves in experiences that they consider and classify as fun; often falsely called “clean fun.” “But you;” you are not like these people. Perhaps in the past we all, me and you included, at some time or the other, we followed along with the crowd, putting aside what we had been told: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers (Psalm 1:1).” Everyone appreciates transparency, but let’s face the truth. At some point in time, we were something else. “But you” – you have been changed! “But you” – you are no longer the same! “But you” – you now do your best to align your life up with the will of God.
So if and when you are invited, enticed, or your old nature is impulsively insisting to run its own inner insurrection, trying to overtake your new nature and cause you to partake in the activities of the ungodly, remember, “But you!” Oh we need some “But you” mentality especially on weekends; really every day.
Let’s get back to “these people.” They don’t have the Holy Spirit, “But you” do. They do not have faith in God’s word, “But you” do. They don’t look to God to direct their path, “But you” do! “These people” who live by their natural instinct don’t reflect that which is right, but thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit who dwells within us who belong to His kingdom and have been made royal priests. Therefore I can tell you to let Him lead you; let Him guide you; let Him protect you; let Him manage your tongue and all the other parts of your physical and mental being; let Him steer you away from the imagination that is the initial step to sin; let Him have charge, not blocking His role of speaking to your heart when you are trying to answer “Should I?” or “Shouldn’t I?” on this Saturday. “These people” don’t have the benefit that you have. Not true in your case and I am telling when I say, “But you” do!
My job is almost done. I hope I have got you thinking and moved your God conscious meter in the right direction. Yet, there is one more thing I must say. Many will forsake the assembly of the saints, physically or virtually, tomorrow on the Lord’s Day, “But you” will not be one of them because you know God will have a specific word, for a specific purpose, sent by a specific messenger and it will be just for you! Enjoy your day! Be blessed!
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (I Peter 2:9 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King