2.21.08 Were You There? Study Guide Notes

Text: Jude 1;24-25

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

In my eyes, this is one of the most uplifting and compelling Benedictions we have in the Bible. The author is giving God praise and glory for how God works in our lives. God is glorified through you and through me! This thought yokes humanity and God together. For us, it is comforting to know that God is always on our side bringing us to Him. No matter what we have done, God is willing and able to restore us to a right relationship. That to me is hopeful. It shows what unconditional love truly means.

We have been focusing on temptation this week which has the tendency to bring us to think that God is waiting on high to pounce on us. But the message over and over is one of patience and love. Mercy and compassion. Instead of running and hiding from God when we mess up, the Bible teaches over and again to come directly to God and get it right and over with. The quicker we move toward God and accept forgiveness, the quicker we can get back to doing what He has laid out for us. I don't mean to make it sound like a transaction. It is so much more than that. Recognizing our need for God and running to Him is the A-1 way to grow in our spiritual life. Our humility places us directly beneath God's stream of grace.