“These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage” (Jude 1:16).

If the wicked ones are out for you there is not much you can do about it.  They will find fault with everything you do.  Do not feed into the wickedness.  We are commanded by the Lord to love and put the best possible construction on others behaviors.  But do not be deceived, nor fall into their deceptions.  Live truthfully and be guarded by the One who saves you from the death that sin brings.

Lord, this makes sense.  I see it all around me.  Seemingly decent people who attack, hate, and do not live as You would have us live.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of life that You would have me live.  Lead me according to Your purpose to live according to all Your commandments, summed up by loving You and my neighbor as I love myself.  Teach me, Lord, what I need to know and help me to do it.

Dear Lord Jesus, You endured the crowds that were jeering and mocking You with every step You took to the Cross.  They lied and accused You of all kinds of things, but You kept heading to Golgotha.  Lord, You have saved me.  Lead me in the way of salvation so that I too may overcome the wickedness perpetrated in this age.  Guide me according to Your goodness and in Your mercy to learn how to be faithful.  Amen.

“[T]o execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”  (Jude 1:15)

We ought to take seriously the judgement of the Lord.  Too many, it seems, think it’s all fun and games.  It is not a matter of being fearful, but about trying to do good, knowing that grace is what motivates it, seeking to be decent to others (according to the Lord and not the world) and do things the way the Lord would have you do them, in utter simplicity, behaving as you ought to behave.  But the world does not want you to do that and the games go on.

Lord, Help me to see the contrast between good and evil, and live as You would have me live.  Guide me away from the wicked ways of this world and into the way You have established from the beginning.  Help me, dear Lord, to remember that in You I have hope and know that when judgement comes I have the blessed assurance of Your grace.  Lead me as You know I need to be guided and teach me to get out of the way so You can lead.

Lord Jesus, I have many ideas and I need to stop.  Help me learn first how to submit to You, My Lord and Savior.  Then teach me to follow You no matter what people around me are doing and saying.  Finally, in Your goodness, lift me up to become like You.  I know this needs to begin over and over again, but do not give up on me Jesus.  Keep leading me in the way I need to go.  Amen.

“It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones” (Jude 1:14)

The battle between good and evil has continued unabated since the fall of Adam and Eve.  We are that generation.  The Lord has come to save.  There are those who act as if they did not need to be saved, or that somehow, they only need a little saving.  We have all fallen short of God’s glory.  We all, at the end of this age, will have only the smallest plea of, “All I did was what You asked”.

Lord, the sinful heart is haughty and does not want what You alone can give.  Guide me away from my sinful heart, Lord, and into the grace and mercy that You have purchased from the cross.  Guide me in the way of righteousness and lead me according to the will of the Father.  Lord, You know all that is needed. Help me to follow You today to do what is right in Your sight.

Lord Jesus, I too need saving.  You have come to save one such as me.  Guide me in the way of  righteousness You demonstrated while walking this earth so that, by Your example, I may be mindful of the way to go.  Lead me, O Lord, so that in Your goodness and mercy I may share with others the Good News of the salvation You have purchased from the cross.  Help me to be faithful.  Amen.

“[W]ild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 1:13).

The deeds of the wicked are as evident as they are repulsive.  They know no shame.  Do not be deceived, those who practice such things are bound for eternal darkness.  Has not Jesus told us that what we believe will be evident by our deeds?  Live as one who believes that Jesus has paid the price for your sin and freed you to be His disciple.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy.

Lord, in the moment it seems like the wicked get their way, but time does tell a different story.  Lead me in Your goodness always so that I do what is right in Your eyes.  Do not let me be led astray by those who practice wickedness in this world.  Instead, help me to be led by You and the goodness and mercy You have made available in abundance from the cross by Your grace.  Guide me, dear Jesus, in the way of truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that those who trust in You may live life differently from those in the world who are always practicing wickedness for their own ends.  Let me see the futility of this so that I may live by what is right, good and salutary.  Help me to learn how to live righteously in a world filled with anger, hatred, and greed.  Guide me according to the Father’s will to do what is right always.  Amen.

“These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted” (Jude 1:12)

Why is it we think that anyone who calls themself a Christian and hangs out with a fellowship is a good person?  We all have sin issues and the Lord has come to save each one of us.  Yes, there are those who are wicked that mask themselves as good people.  Jesus said that by their fruits will you know them.  Trust the Lord and accept all others with a grain of doubt.  Love them but know that we are all sinners in need of grace.

Lord, Your church has been so maligned in the eyes of the world by the hypocrites who mask as Your followers.  Others think that this hypocrisy is what Christianity is all about.  First, help me learn how to be faithful.  Then, help me to behave in such a way as to show the Good News of the Gospel through my words and deeds.  Lead me, Lord, according to Your goodness and enable me to walk humbly in Your ways that others see You in me.

Lord Jesus, You died so that we might be freed from sin, death, and the devil.  Bring me to the place where I live as one who has been freed. Guide me in Your goodness to walk humbly with You my Maker and do things the way You would have me do them.  Lead me this day to humbly submit to all that You would have me do knowing that Your way is right and that I need Your continuing direction.  Amen.

“Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” (Jude 1:11).

Me, myself, and I are an unholy trinity.  We go the way of self over others, and even God, and then expect something better.  The Lord is lord of all.  We are to have no other gods before the Lord.  That includes you and me thinking that we are so important.  Do not go the way of those who have erred but go the way of a disciple and follow Jesus all the days of your life.

Why is it, Lord, that so many go the way of Cain and Balaam?  Why do we think so highly of ourselves?  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may walk humbly with You, the Creator of all things.  Back me away from egotistical thinking and help me to learn humility.  Guide me along the path You have set before me and help me to walk that path.

Lord Jesus, You know what temptation is.  You overcame these things and went to the cross in order that we too might overcome them through You.  You demonstrated the right attitude by submitting to the Father in all things.  Lead me by Your example so that I may humbly submit and walk the way of life that is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Guide me now and always in the way of salvation.  Amen.

“But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed” (Jude 1:10).

This generation accuses.  “You know nothing.”  Think about the arrogance of one who makes such a statement.  They do not know you or what you do or do not know.  Do not reason with such, for they are unable to reason.  Come into the presence of the Lord and let Him teach you how to reason.  Do not be one bound for destruction, but one who walks with the Lord and is bound for eternity with Him.

Lord, I do not need to know all things, but I do know what You have shown me.  Guide me in the upward call of Your grace so that I may walk humbly with You.  There are those around me who revile Your word and the goodness of Your grace.  Give me deaf ears to their hatred.  The world acts like unreasoning animals.  Help me to reason so that I begin to act like You.  Lead me as I need to be led.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the goodness and mercy of Your presence and purpose in my life.  Lead me this day to walk humbly with You.  Although the world around me may be crazy, guide me so that I look to you for all things.  You alone have given the words of eternal life.  Open my ears to listen to You alone as I journey through this age.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way of salvation.  Amen.

“But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”  (Jude 1:9)

How easily judgement rolls off our tongues.  We are commanded to not judge, but we judge all day long.  If the Archangel does not judge, then who are we, amidst our trivialities, to judge one another?  We have our disputes and disagreements, but the word of the Lord has spoken.  Judge not in condemnation lest with the same condemnation you be condemned.  Look to the Lord for all things and act accordingly.

Lord, I am guilty of having spoken such judgements and feeling quite alright about the whole thing.  Help me to not condemn others, for You alone are the judge of the living and the dead.  Yes, I do need to discern, but You have forbidden that I pronounce condemnation.  Lead me into a life that encourages others to live into the promise of faith You have given them so that they too may know the joy of Your presence in their lives.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, to see all the things necessary so that I can become like You.  Guide me to live by the words You have spoken and understand the goodness You intend for me.  Through Your grace and mercy, teach me to be one who also has grace and mercy.  Let me not condemn those who disagree but instead live a good life which shows Your presence in my life.  Amen.

“Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties” (Jude 1:8).

The things of the Lord are the things of the Lord.  Do not make up for yourself what you want things to be or live by wishful thinking.  The Lord has spoken His word and revealed His purpose.  Be guided in the goodness and mercy of the Lord and do not give in to the temptation to be an authority unto yourself.  Be led by the Lord and walk in His ways now and always.

Lord, I am tempted at times to reject certain authorities when I want something other than what I will receive when I walk in Your ways.  Guide me, Lord, to live into the life You have set before me.  Continue to grow me according to Your purpose so that I may become more like You each day.  You have placed the hope of eternity in my heart.  Increase my faith and grow that hope into reality.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the hope I have through faith.  By grace You have freed me from the bondage to sin and death.  But You have not given me license to do as I please.  Lead me, O Lord, into the life of faith You have given me so that I might do the work of a disciple and live according to Your teaching.  Guide me this day and help me walk humbly with You, My Lord and Master.  Amen.

“[J]ust as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7).

Look at the world today.  Think about what was acceptable and unacceptable one generation ago.  We have all kinds of things going on that are not acceptable according to Scripture.  God still loves us, and Jesus died for our sins, but our world has accelerated chasing after gross immorality.  Do not be led astray by what the culture does.  Be led by the word of the Lord and His eternal truth.

Lord, it is easier to sin now that things have gotten worse.  Help me to see the contrast between good and evil that I may live into the life You have promised me through faith.  Guide me, dear Lord, so that I may walk humbly with You.  Lead me by Your goodness to not do the things of this world, but to seek Your wisdom and live according to Your precepts.  Help me Lord to not go in  the way of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lord Jesus, You went to the cross so that we who have been in bondage to sin, death, and the devil could be freed.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your never-failing promises to have the hope You give for a perfect eternity.  Guide me through the perils of this world so that I may live into the life of faith and not the hopelessness of momentary pleasure at the cost of eternal salvation.  Amen.