To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
--Jude 1
I remember the days when a phone - on the wall in the kitchen - would ring. It was a real ring, not a tone or a song. This was in an ancient time when Roaming meant you had an extra-long spirally cord from wall unit to handset.
In those days a ringing phone was exciting - of course I was young and typically thrilled by a rock or a block of wood. Most exciting though, was when the phone rang and then I heard, "David, it's for you." Someone had called me.
Jude reminds us that Jesus has called us by name. This is deeply interesting too. You see, Jude was most likely the half brother of Jesus; we surmise this in his introduction as James' brother. So why is this a big deal? Apparently James and Jude - and most of Jesus' family - did not buy in to his God-ness (or Christ-ness, Creator-ness, Savior-ness) while Jesus roamed the Galilean hills. It was not until Jesus' gruesome death and odds-breaking, glorious resurrection that Jude believed. And though he had been a doubter and a nay-sayer, Jesus called him by name.
Jesus has called you (and me) by name. With phenomenal grace, he meant to dial, and he asked for us... "David, it's for you."
Just as importantly, Jude tells us, this calling grace is keeping grace. The same power that overcame death in a cave-tomb, walked water and healed lepers; that is the power that called us by name. And it is the same power that continues calling and keeping us by his side daily.
It is good to be called. It is good to be kept.
God, keep me close; especially when I tend so often to roam.
For now...
D
In those days a ringing phone was exciting - of course I was young and typically thrilled by a rock or a block of wood. Most exciting though, was when the phone rang and then I heard, "David, it's for you." Someone had called me.
Jude reminds us that Jesus has called us by name. This is deeply interesting too. You see, Jude was most likely the half brother of Jesus; we surmise this in his introduction as James' brother. So why is this a big deal? Apparently James and Jude - and most of Jesus' family - did not buy in to his God-ness (or Christ-ness, Creator-ness, Savior-ness) while Jesus roamed the Galilean hills. It was not until Jesus' gruesome death and odds-breaking, glorious resurrection that Jude believed. And though he had been a doubter and a nay-sayer, Jesus called him by name.
Jesus has called you (and me) by name. With phenomenal grace, he meant to dial, and he asked for us... "David, it's for you."
Just as importantly, Jude tells us, this calling grace is keeping grace. The same power that overcame death in a cave-tomb, walked water and healed lepers; that is the power that called us by name. And it is the same power that continues calling and keeping us by his side daily.
It is good to be called. It is good to be kept.
God, keep me close; especially when I tend so often to roam.
For now...
D
