25 Days of Christmas - Day 8

25 Days of Christmas - Day 8

"Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain [it offers them, following] the error of Balaam, and have perished in rebellion [tlike that] of Korah! These are hidden reefs (elements of danger) in your love feasts, where they boldly feast sumptuously [carousing together in your midst], without scruples providing for themselves [alone]. They are clouds without water, swept along by the the winds; trees, wihout fruit at the late autumn gathering time - twice [doubly] dead, lifeless and] plucked up by the roots; Wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever." Jude 11-123

In yesterday's devotional Billy ended it with the greatest commandment given to us by our Lord, to love your God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself and it is this that we want to focus upon in the days ahead. Remember that boy mentioned in day 1 of this devotional, the one who gave a gift to his mom of a good report card? Well, the gift we are striving to give our Lord on December 25 ("twenty-five being the square of five (or 5 x 5), expresses the essence of the signification of five, i.e. grace" [E.W. Bollinger]) as our thank you to Him, is this, to fulfill the greatest commandments given to us by our Redeemer. If we take an honest look around us in the church, is it not fair to say that, like the boy, the church has had a difficult time not only understanding what this commandment is but walking in it as well. Our prayer is that we will all be open to receive the instruction the Holy Spirit is giving us in the days ahead so that we will be able to present a "good report" to our Lord this Christmas Day.

Now, let us take a look at what Judas (brother of Jesus) has to say in Jude in regards to that which we are seeing going on in the body of Christ today. Judas mentions that they are elements of danger in "your love feasts". In verse 4 of Jude he writes, "For certain men have crept in stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." We see where grace has been perverted and where people walk in the lusts of the flesh rather than by walking in the way of the Spirit.

What are these elements of danger in our love feasts that Judas is talking about? The love (agape) that we were instructed to partake of by our Lord Jesus Christ is to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Yet we see that many are feasting upon a love, without scruples, provides for themselves alone! While they say they love God and others it is just lip service without fruit. What happens when we have these "hidden reefs" in our love feasts? Judas tells us that we become " clouds without water, swept along by the winds; trees, without fruit at the late autumn gathering time - twice (doubly) dead, [lifeless and] plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever." We, His people have in us He Who is Living Waters. But when we walk out of the grace that has been given to us and walk in selfish love we become as clouds that are barren, dried up with no life to give to others, forms without substance swept along by the winds carried here and there without direction. When we do not have the love of God filling us up and walking as He would have us walk we are like trees that should be bringing forth fruit to feed others yet are found in that time of gathering as twice dead, with no life coming forth us and no life within us, cut off from the source of life that we should be grounded to, roots easily pulled out- twice dead! When there is "hidden reefs" within our love walk we are like wild waves of the sea whose shame and disgrace is not contained within itself but leaves a foam that touches the shore, touches others lives with furry in it's passing and after so much time causes erosion; "wandering stars, for whom the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever." These last words are hard for the people of God to hear thinking that they will dwell with the Lord in eternity forever, no matter what they do. But this is not so as we can in Scripture. Judas is warning the people what will happen to the people in they allow these spots, these hidden reefs, to remain in their lives - they will be like wandering stars that will not abide in His glorious Light but in eternal darkness! We will go into this more in the days ahead but for now, let us ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal to us if there is any hidden reefs that abide there. Teach us how to walk in charity (agape love) to God and to one another, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/2018 11:14AM by Joan.