Mysty PfefferLetters to Those We Love
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone you love?
For many of us, it’s seems like ages ago. Although, social media and texting make messaging one another easy and quick, it oftentimes lacks the personal touch of a letter.
Yet, how often do we fail to relay the depth of our empathy in a text. Perhaps, more importantly, our remorse for a harsh word. In fact, how clear are we to declare how much we care to those we cherish?
Under those circumstances, maybe it’s time to get out the stationary and pen a letter to someone we love. Who is on our heart? What will we say to the special person in our lives? Perhaps, we’ll start with our usual term of endearment, “Dear” … meaning darling, cherished one, precious.
Wow, it’s already sounding more personable and real. Much like the letter of Jude begins in our first day of bible study.
Jude 1:1 says, “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
We learn in our first day of study how ancient letters address recipients. The sender introduces himself by name and states he is a servant to Jesus Christ. However he mentions his brother James but neglects to mention his other siblings. One of whom is Jesus, as well as the others listed in Mathew 13:53-55.
The humility shown in these few words is a wonderful example of how we can address people in our current volatile climate. Although, he is a brother to the Messiah and James a pillar of the church, he doesn’t boast of his credentials. Instead, he calls himself a servant (in many translations-slave). He then clearly states who he is writing to.
“Those who are called”.
Since the beauty of bible study is looking deeper into what the text says, Jackie directs us in our study to clarify the people called.
*We read in scripture people are called according to God’s purpose (Rom. 8:28-30).
*Christians are called into fellowship with His son (1 Cor. 1:4-9)
* We are also called through the gospel (2 Thess. 2: 13-14)
*As well as, called to a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:8-9). (Perry, 2019, p. 22)
Beloved By God
Furthermore, the letter’s introduction states the recipients are “beloved in God”.
A word meaning dearest, darling, precious, and cherished. Words so much needed to hear and words we need to hear. God poured out his love for us by sending His only son to suffer and die for our sin (John 3:16).
When we fully place our trust in Him, we walk away from our intention to sin. Submitting our lives to him, we are in safe keeping with Jesus Christ.
Moreover, the recipients of the letter are being “kept’ in his grace. No broken promises or contracts for Jude’s listener’s as they face the false teachers and violent culture around them.
Therefore, Jude reassures his listeners in his first sentence: Since they commit to following Jesus, they are not disregarded, cast aside, or broken in spirt.
They are kept FOR Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in Mathew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Furthermore, Jesus also makes it as clear to us as he did His disciples, in this world we will have trouble. But his words to them can also be an assurance to us, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33).
So, dear sister in Christ, who God the Father cherishes, from Mysty, who loves Jesus, please let scripture lift you up today.
God’s Holy words are a whisper on the pages of scripture to draw us closer to Him. We have the privilege to treasure and share them with those we love.
I pray you write a heartfelt letter to someone special and tell them how deeply you love and appreciate them. How glorious, we are in safe keeping with Jesus Christ!
References:
Perry, Jackie Hill, 2019. Jude, Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture. Liefway Press, Nashville, TN 37234.
Dear Mysty, who loves Jesus, I write this thanking you this day for your teaching and leading. I, too, love our Lord and have been His child since I was 12. As I continue to learn, I get excited about just how much He Loves Me. Happy Thanksgiving.