God takes notice of those who build up themselves while tearing down others. This is true both of individuals as well as nations. People groups that boast against the people of God put themselves especially in the crosshairs of God’s judgment, for this is according to His ancient promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. The curse incurred by those who curse God’s people or boast against them comes square into view in Ezekiel 25-26. Nations that believed they could get by with mocking God’s people quickly learned otherwise. God had special words of judgment just for them.

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Jude briefly turned to Hebrew history in his already-brief letter. The people of God had routinely dealt with false teachers in the past. It shouldn’t have been surprising for the Christians in the then-present (nor for us today). They could look to their past to see what to expect in the present.

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God held nothing back in either the description of His people’s sin, nor in His judgment guaranteed for them. They had acted in terrible ways, committing spiritual harlotry against the God who loved them and who provided for them. Thus, His judgment would consume them. What do we do with difficult chapters such as these? We praise God for our Savior in Christ Jesus!

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As Christians, is it possible for us to cross God’s red-line? Yes. While we cannot sin our way out of God’s free gift of salvation, it is possible for us to provoke God’s hand of discipline against us. Let us not be those who take the grace of Jesus for granted!

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While the New Testament never tells Christians to come to blows over doctrine (quite the opposite!), it does affirm that there some things worth fighting for. This is especially true when it comes to the gospel and the core doctrines concerning Christ. Christians are to stand the line and contend for the faith.

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No word of judgment is easy to proclaim, and God gave Ezekiel many. Ezekiel had the responsibility to rightly proclaim this judgment, just as the people to whom he preached had the responsibility to believe and respond. This is always the way it is, no matter in what century we live.

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Every local church occasionally has a Diotrephes, even as we pray for more Demetriuses and Gaiuses. How should we handle the former, while seeking to be the latter? This is where we pay close attention to 3 John, particularly in v11: “do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.”

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The problem we often have with mercy is that we don’t always appreciate it. God’s mercy is always wonderful…but we don’t always recognize it. Or, we just assume He will always give it, and we take it for granted. We aren’t the only ones. God reminds His people of this in Ezekiel 19-20.

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When John wrote to Gaius, he wrote of that which is true. Gaius walked in the truth – he helped other Christian teachers continue to promote the truth – he lived as an example of how every Christian can walk in truth. The Christian gospel is true…and we can/should base our lives upon it!

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Isaiah prophesied good news for Christmas, 700+ years before Christmas! God promised a Child, a Son to be given for us…God Incarnate, encompassing everything that is wonderful about God Himself. He is God – He is King – He is marvelous!

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