Keep in God's Love

Jude 1 says, But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Today is Valentine’s Day.  You probably fall into one of these categories: You love this day and have a romantic date you’re looking forward to, you hate this day because you have no special someone in your life, or you are indifferent to this day because after all, it’s just another Friday…

According to Wikipedia, A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer...

So the story goes that the one who imprisoned another ended up being blessed by the one held captive.

This verse in Jude encourages us to keep ourselves in God’s love…..

God’s love reaches out to the one next to us, the one who spits on us, the one who betrays, us, and offers a healing touch of forgiveness.  Forgiving others does not mean we’re saying what that person did was okay.  Not at all.  Forgiving is releasing that person from our rage and vengeance into the arms of a loving God who has mercy, healing and restoration for the worst person on earth.

If you’re alone today because of betrayal, build yourself up in faith by praying.

If you’re going out tonight on a date, keep yourself in God’s love.

If you’re indifferent about the whole concept of a “love day” ask for God’s mercy to fall on you like rain, and then dance with Him as he woos you with His perfect love.