Week 8 – Jude: “CONTEND”

Devotions written by Troy Freeman

Monday
Jude 1-4

The book of Jude has been called “the most neglected book in the New Testament” by many Bible scholars. It is widely believed this short letter was written to Christ-followers by Jesus’ half-brother, Judas. (To avoid connection with Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus, most translators use the name Jude.) After a typical greeting, Jude immediately calls Christians to “contend earnestly for the faith” against the ungodly who were contending against the faith. He states his intention was to write about God’s salvation, but the Holy Spirit wanted him to warn against apostates (men who claimed to be believers but denied the authority of Jesus and twisted his grace into a license to sin all they wanted). This “apostasy” was threatening the health of the true believers in the church, much like it is today.

This week, read this letter as a present-day call to arms for us, God’s church. You will find the warnings, challenges, and encouraging words fit right into our present-day lives.