I don’t know about you, but on Mondays especially, I need a wake-up call.
Normally I have just spent a nice weekend with my family, either relaxing or every minute was scheduled, and I need one more day to recover from my busy weekend.
So, this morning, as I was taping my eyelids back (kidding) due to lack of sleep because I still can’t seem to get myself to bed at a reasonable time (not kidding), I stumbled upon an Instagram story by Annie F. Downs.
Annie F. Downs is a powerhouse speaker, full of transparency and just love for God and people. She’s my kind of person. She challenged her followers to read the book of Jude—so being the obedient Millennial that I am, I did it.
Jude is the second-to-last book in the Bible, and just 25 verses long, so go read it right now, so we can be on the same wave length.
HELLO MONDAY WAKEUP CALL!
It starts heating up in verse 12, under a section labeled “The Apostates Doom” in my Bible. Jude is serving a warning about people and behaviors of which you should flee.
Verse 12 says, “These are the ones who are like dangerous reefs at your love feasts. They feast with you, only nurturing themselves without fear. They are waterless clouds…”
Verse 16 continues saying, “These people are discontented grumblers walking according to their desires, their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage…”
Seventeen through 19 continue, “But you, dear friends, remember the words foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; they told you, ‘In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.’ These people create division and are merely natural, not having the Spirit.”
What a gut punch, am I right? Have you ever feasted only to nurture yourself? I have. Have you been a waterless cloud? A tree that doesn’t produce fruit?
Does “discontented grumbler walking according to their desires,” sound like you at any point in your life? I know that has been me.
Scripture like this not only makes me ashamed for my selfish and sinful ways, but it challenges me. It makes me want to say, “Hey Jude! Thank you for the wakeup call!”
Verses 20-23 say, “But you, dear friends, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on some who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; on others have mercy in fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
I am so thankful when the Lord uses one of His servants to challenge me spiritually by calling out my sins and flaws. He follows with how I can be like Him.
I am so thankful that I can turn from my wordly desires and actions, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus, I can turn my eyes toward eternity in Heaven, “expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.”
I’ll wrap up with verses 24-25. “Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior; through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all time, now, and forever. Amen.”