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“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 1:3, NIV)

Jude encourages all followers of Jesus — past, present, and future — to “contend for the faith.”

I do not believe it to be accidental that he chose the positive, as in contending for; instead of the negative, as in contending against. The truth is this: We can go either way, but as it concerns the faith we hold dear let us be forward looking, optimistic, and proactive.

To “contend” means to strive for a particular goal or objective. We contend for the faith when we make choices that are consistent with our profession, and embrace those choices with confidence and joy. – Luther

Tagged contending for the faith, discipleship, the book of Jude

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“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1, NASB)

The scriptures tell us that a pupil is not above his or her teacher. If the teacher suffers the slings and arrows of ignorant people, the pupil should expect nothing less.

Jesus is God in human flesh, blood, and bone. He came because God loved the world; but the world did not return His love. The world preferred its ways to God’s ways. The world preferred its gods to the one true, living, God.

The evidence of God’s love is the gift to us of His own name. As His children, we are His heirs; and as His heirs, all that came to Jesus has also been set-aside for you and me.

With this in mind, always live a life worthy of the Name you’ve been given. Our heavenly Father’s good name may not always be honored on this earth, but the mere whisper of it anywhere in the universe makes available to us every blessing and gift from heaven! – Luther

Tagged discipleship, the book of 1 John

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“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52, NASB)

Bethlehem, the manger, the heavenly host, the visit of the wise men, and all of the other wondrous features of our Lord’s arrival were a great beginning; but it didn’t end there. The baby Jesus became the boy Jesus, who became the adolescent Jesus, who became the fully-grown man.

In our lives, there are many wondrous beginnings: The birth of a child; a wedding; a new lease on life after a serious illness; a new day. It is only the first step. Advancing through each step that follows is as expected as night following day.

We grow in stature because we take nourishment over time. We grow in wisdom by the same principle, but instead of food, it is obedience to the word of God that increases wisdom and divine favor. – Luther

Tagged discipleship, spiritual maturity, the book of Luke