“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

We all have a common salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  There are no special dispensations.  One person is not treated differently than any another.  In Christ we are one and equal.  These words are important.  Our world rails against differences, as well as against similarity.  The Lord created us to be equal under God, but each of us is also a quite unique individual.  Contend for the true faith and do not let what the world preaches get in the way.

Lord, You know those places where I am led astray.  Help me, I pray, to see the places which get me off track and stay away from them.  Guide me to live the common salvation which is beyond denomination, tradition, or particularity of understanding.  You have given the faith once for all, just as You died once for all.  Lead me in the true faith so that I may live into the life to wich You have called for me to live.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior.  You are the Master.  Lead me to live the life for which You have called me and for which You died.  Let me not think myself superior or inferior, but one of all with whom You have been saved by grace through faith.  Guide me, Lord, to live humbly in You .  You know what I need for this day.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to follow You alone.  Amen.

“To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you” (Jude 1:2).

Many are called and few are chosen.  Many hear the word, and it is choked out or quickly dies in them.  Those kept are the ones who hold fast to the truth all the days of their earthly lives.  Are you chosen?  You will find out when you stand before Jesus.  To believe is to act.  Believe and act as if you are one of Jesus’ disciples.  Walk therefore, humbly with your Lord and Master.

Lord, the world does all kinds of twisted things.  It acts as if it knows (follow the science) when it does not.  I need to be reminded that this is Your world and that You created all things.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to understand that only in You is there life and that all other ways lead to death.  Guide me Lord in order that I humbly submit to all that You would have me do.

Lord Jesus, You promised the peace that passes all understanding to those who believe.  Help my unbelief so that I may walk humbly with You, my Lord and Master.  Hold me in Your mercy so that Your love grows in me.  Teach me how to love You and my neighbor as I am called to do.  Teach me how to walk as one who believes and obeys.  Guide me in Your goodness, O Lord, so that I may grow into Your likeness on this journey You have placed before me.  Amen.

“Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James” (Jude 1:1)

We may not be able to definitively answer who this Jude was.  Is this James the brother of Jesus?  Is this Jude the Apostle?  The answer does not matter except as a matter of curiosity.  James is a slave (bond-servant) of Jesus.  That’s what the Greek word says.  That means Jesus is the master and Jude is the slave.  He is writing so that those who are being led astray may know the truth.  We are to be slaves to our master, bound by His word.

Lord, in this world which cries out over everything, slavery is not a popular idea.  But how can it be otherwise?  I will destroy myself unless You take over.  Let me not argue with You over what must be, but instead submit to You who is the author and finisher of my faith.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of truth so that I may understand more fully this journey on which You are leading me in this age.

Lord Jesus, You are the Master.  Too many think You are just a friend of sinners.  You are God-in-the-flesh and You have come to lead the way.  Help me to not get this one wrong.  Help me to understand that everything is, as it must be, in Your hands (Matthew 28:18) and that I must follow You wherever You lead me.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, now and forever.  Amen.

“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Jesus told us the parable of the wheat and the tares.  There are those who are unprincipled, and they are among the church.  Do not be led astray by those who will lead you away from the truth.  Listen as the Holy Spirit ministers to you and be guided by the word that endures forever.  The Word will not lead you astray, but you have the free will to revert to the old Adam and listen to the rebellious voice which does not speak the truth.

Lord, Your word is truth and Your word sets me free, restraining the old Adam and letting me know the true word when I hear it.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that may I abide in You and You in me.  Lead me according to all of Your promises.  Help me to be discerning and accept the words that are true and reject them when they are not.  Guide me into truth that I may live in Your truth always, and open my ears to hear and mind to understand when You speak.

Lord Jesus, You died so that those with ears to hear and understand would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Guide me in the truth You have spoken so that I may be led by the hope You give me.  When one tries to lead me astray, let me understand what is being said and done so that I may hold fast to what is true.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You have established and help me always to remain in Your grace.  Amen.

“[A]s also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).

Take care not to think too lightly of Scripture.  The Lord has given His word with purpose and for purpose.  He who created all things has spoken what He desires for us to know.  Unthinking and illiterate men will distort the truth to their own peril and to the peril of those who will listen to them.  Be diligent and study Scriptures daily and know the word of the Lord and the promises which are in and through Him alone.

Lord, grant that I would turn to You in order that Your Spirit would guide me in reading and understanding what You have given us in Your word.  Open my heart and mind to Your wisdom so that when false teachers come, they would be known immediately.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will follow You.  Let me hear Your voice when You speak.  Speak through me with Your wisdom.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being my constant guardian.  Guard my mind and mouth so that in thinking and speaking, I may exhibit the wisdom that You alone give.  Thank You for the guidance You give.  Thank You for the sanctification to which Your word leads me.  Thank You for guarding my heart and mind and keeping me in Christ Jesus my Savior.  Lead me always in the truth.  Amen.

“[A]nd regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you” (2 Peter 3:15)

The Lord has been patient with you.  Through all of the difficulties you have had and through all of your sins, the Lord has loved you and awaited your coming to Him.  Listen to the writing of the saints.  Listen to the word as it speaks to you.  Do not be guided by the shallowness of this world, but by the goodness of the One who has called you into His presence.  Know that God is the true Sovereign of this world.

Lord, I want things when I want them and when I see what an outcome ought to be in my mind, that is what I want.  But I have lived enough life to know that you do not always get what you want.  Help me, dear Lord, to walk humbly with You and  let You guide me wherever You will take me.  Do not let me harbor such vain thoughts as thinking I know what the timing of anything ought to be.  Lead me always, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You came with perfect timing.  You did all things necessary for the sake of those who will follow You.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life and help me to be guided by You and no one else.  Let me not be led astray by the wiles of the wicked one.  Keep my eyes upon You and not upon the clock.  You will do all that is needed before everything is finished.  Help me to trust You.  Amen.

“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14)

Every person has work they can do.  None of us is without something to do.  The world would have you be busy with distractions.  The Lord gives you the opportunity to grow in Him.  Which direction will you go?  As Peter instructs us, be diligent to be found in Him.  Be diligent and seek to obey all that He has commanded.  Seek what will be yours in eternity and become spotless and blameless.

Lord, You know the obstacles that get in the way.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy to live into the life which You have for me.  You know where I do not live according to Your word.  You know where I seek other things instead of  what You have given me to seek.  Lead me, O Lord, to love and live in accordance with the Father’s will.  Help me to be at peace.

Lord Jesus, I need the grace You purchased for me from the cross.  Guide me to live into the life You have set before me.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that only in You is there hope.  Keep me close to You so that I may live a life that is befitting the grace You have given me.  Help me now and always as I journey along this path toward becoming like You.  Amen.  

“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

If you have come to know these things, why do you keep living as though they were not true?  How many of those who call themselves people of faith have lives that are no different than their unbelieving neighbors?  Let the truth of the word dwell richly in you such that you are affected and live differently.  Heaven and earth will pass away, and you shall either dwell with the Lord or apart from the Lord forever.  How ought you to live, preparing for that day?

Lord, help me to have right priorities.  Guide me to understand that this world really is temporary and that what I do here does affect who I will become.  Guide me in the upward journey to focus upon becoming like Christ in and through all things.  Lead me in Your goodness to not be so focused upon this world, but upon Your truth which leads me to where I am going.

Lord Jesus, You came to redeem us so that we are no longer captive to this world’s fleeting ideas.  You have lifted me up through Your grace to be on the path of becoming like You.  Guide me, dear Lord, so that I will focus upon what is right and fitting as I prepare to be with You forever.  Lead me away from the temptations that would cause me to focus upon what this world offers me.  Amen.

“[L]ooking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:12)

Peter is describing something which he does not know, but we know a little more because we are closer to that day.  Is He describing an atomic meltdown?  Is he describing something we can fathom but do not yet know?  A universal atomic meltdown?  The Lord created all things and knows how all things are held together.  They are held together in Him.  Do not be misled by this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus your Savior.

Lord, there are hints about the end times throughout Scripture, yet these do not really matter.  What matters is that You are the Lord and You have come so that we may have life in You.  Guide me, dear Lord, to see through the temptations of this age in order that I may live into the life You have given me by grace.  Lead me now and always; for the day is coming when this age will end.

Thank You Lord Jesus for providing salvation for all who believe.  Lead me into the salvation You have provided in order that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Let me not forget Your benefits nor live for that which will pass away.  Help me to live for the eternal things You set before me and guide me in Your goodness and mercy now and forever.  May I always be found walking in Your ways.  Amen.

“Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11)

Asking the right question will move us in the right direction.  The wicked one deceives, and we get off track by not asking the right questions.  Indeed, what kind of person ought you to be?  This is the question that should drive us to holy conduct.  The Lord has called you to be one of His.  He has lifted you out of the mire to be conformed to His image.  What kind of person ought you to be?

When I see that the answer is that I am to be like Christ, it becomes simple to understand.  Not simple to do, but simple to understand.  Holy Spirit, transform and  conform me to the image of Christ.  You are growing in me what You have always intended.  Help me to ask this question every morning and then be about the business of living into the answer every day.  You are forever and have invited me into forever.

Lord Jesus, You who are the model of the godly life, guide me according to Your never-failing purposes by Your goodness You demonstrated to us through Your ministry.  Help me learn how to ask the right questions.  Help me to live the right answers.  Help me by Your grace to see that in You is all hope and that You have indeed provided all that is needed for salvation. Amen.