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THE LOVE OF GOD
THE LOVE OF GOD
How do you “keep yourself in the love of God”? Some people might think there is nothing to do here because God loves everyone. But Jude thinks there is something to be done by his fellow followers of Christ. The word “keep” is an imperative, a verb, an action word. If he said, “keep yourself in God’s house”, then Jude would not want us to leave God’s house.
This raises the question, what did Jude mean by telling Christians to, “keep yourselves in the love of God”? (Jude 1:21). It must mean something like, keep yourselves in a position that you receive the full benefits of God’s love.
The prodigal son left his father’s love, walked away. The father didn’t want the son to leave, but the son, “gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.” (Luke 13-14). This story hits home because we have all seen a young son or daughter leave their parents in a rebellious attitude. It is not that the father or mother stops loving that child, but they have put themselves into a position, of not being benefited by their parents love and closeness.
So if a Christian has done the same thing to God, what should they do? The prodigal son knows his father’s lifestyle does not allow “loose living”. So the child makes a humble decision to return to the father. He deeply trusts his father’s goodness and love. The son says to himself, ’I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ (Luke 15:18-19).
Suddenly when the son comes back home, he is dressed with the finest of clothes, a ring placed upon his finger, and new sandals. His father kills the fatted calf for him, and he finds himself actually celebrating with his father! So the love of the father never left, but the prodigal left the father’s love.
It seems to me that this is what Jude must mean by the strong imperative, “keep yourselves in the love of God”. Don’t waste another day in the pigpen and being hungry. Turn to God, even in the humble attitude of the prodigal son. And just see, experience, the untold joy of finding yourself celebrating on the inside. When was the last time you marveled at the love of God? It is the undying love of an eternal Father who sent his Son to seek and save the lost. Yes, there are those who have never left their “loose living”, who are dead while they live. Just don ’t let that be you (or me)! Dan Peters
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