08 January 2012

Mercy for doubters

Sometimes, I forget what a good little book Jude is. Tucked in right before Revelation, it is easy to gloss over. Jesus' half-brother issues a strong exhortation to the believers to hold fast to the faith in the midst of an unbelieving, and often antagonistic, world (Jude 17-21). He cautions that unbelieving false teachers will even creep into the church and subvert the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Jude 4). Today, though, I was particularly struck by Jude 22, which says, "And have mercy on those who doubt."

Jude knows that in this world filled with "boasters and malcontents", there will be those who are filled with seeds of doubt. They may want to believe, but are trying desperately to find truth in the cacophonous messages proffered by an unbelieving world.

As Christians, we have the message of life. Contend for that faith that you have (Jude 3), but do so with mercy.

Daily Reading: Matthew 16, Numbers 19, 1 Corinthians 3, Jude, Song of Solomon 2, Psalm 141, Proverbs 22, 1 Chronicles 23, Daniel 1, Acts 1

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