Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Jude 1-2
Father God, I just want to thank You today because I am called, loved and kept. This time of year it is our habit to reflect upon the journey we have come, highlighting what went well, not so well, and what we intend to change over the course of the remainder of this new year. These “resolutions” typically don’t end well, with us falling off the bandwagon in some way, the commitments fading into the background, either quickly (like within days), or over the course of weeks or months. Old habits kick back in, and we are soon back to doing what we had done so many times before.
Yet, today I am reminded that though I purpose to make real changes this year, and will put forth effort to do so, despite the outcome, I am called, loved and kept. I am called out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. With that calling You have a clear and distinct purpose for my life. It will be unfolding throughout this year. And Your expectation of me is to walk into it.
The good news is that You have and will give me everything I need to walk in this calling; I will not lack any good thing! Hallelujah! Why? Because I am loved. And this love is not just any love. It is an everlasting love that found its source in eternity past and is extended into every aspect of my being. You want the very best for me as demonstrated by the fact that You sent my Savior to redeem me! He did for me what I could not do for myself!
And this love that You have shown me has, as its ultimate goal, the glorification of my person, that I might worship and serve my Savior for eternity. Thus, I am being kept by the power of the Holy Spirit, protected from any lasting hurt, harm or danger, sealed until that day when I shall see my Savior face-to-face! Through Your Spirit’s work within me I am being kept blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and have been infused with this living hope (1 Peter 1:3-5), knowing that I shall indeed behold Him!
So, as I start this day off, I just want to do so with a word of praise in my mouth, thanking You for the mercy, peace and love that is mine in abundance. Let this day be a day of great rejoicing, knowing that this work that You have begun, You are able to complete! For this I give You praise! Amen!