Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ. These verses in Jude offer guidance as we find ourselves between the first coming of Christ and His second coming. It is a call to persevere in a time in which people “follow their own ungodly desires.” But we are to be different, set apart, holy. We are to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and allow Him to work through us in our relationships.
Mercy, salvation, and holiness are the marks of the Holy Spirit that are pointed out in this passage. Specifically, we are called to be merciful to those who doubt, actively work toward sharing the message that saves people from their sins…and we’re supposed to do all this while remaining righteous and holy ourselves. These can seem like daunting tasks at which we are ill-equipped. We usually tend to become defensive of the faith in the midst of doubters. We want to save ourselves from the dangers of sin and forget to look to the needs of those around us. The temptations that can corrupt us are appealing and ever-present.
However, it is not by our own power, our own wisdom, or our own strength that we meet these challenges. We have the Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of all life, the Savior of the world in and among us. Therefore, we take part in the Spirit’s work of restoring the brokenness in our world. We are attentive to the joy as well as the sorrow around us, and we rely solely on the Spirit to “keep [us] from stumbling and to present [us] before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” The Holy Spirit truly is “God with us,” our Emmanuel. Through that never-ending source of power, wisdom, and comfort we can live fully in the love of God as we journey through this second Advent, awaiting the return of Christ.
Cherith Tucker