Nurturing a Godly Life (Jude 17-25)

In our reading from the Letter of Jude we have some good advice that can be applied to parents in the bringing up of their children. We can even say that the priorities which are put in place in families can be informed by such teaching as this. We can’t expect children to do as we say, or to grow as we would like, unless we ourselves as parents and adult role models actually walk the talk. We need to live out lives of faith, prayer, love and compassion, if the children we are responsible for are going to be able to firstly connect with God, and then reach their God-given potential. I know a bit about this, because such faith, prayer, love and compassion, as spoken of in the text, was lived out for me.

Let’s firstly focus together on verses 20-21, where there are four clear elements of nurturing Godly lives. As we can see from the context of the passage, such Godly nurturing will be often carried out in difficult circumstances and through various pressures. Yet, it will be persevering with the things that are really important that will facilitate the sort of life orientation that will survive and then thrive no matter how bad external conditions might be.

1. Build Yourselves up on Your Most Holy Faith

This means seeing your faith in God through Jesus as the central dynamic of your life. Everything springs from here. Every decision, every relationship, derives from the centrality of faith – no exception. We then grow in faith, and it gains arms and legs to show faith’s effectiveness in everyday life. The faith we have within allows us to live out the life of Jesus through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. We begin to strongly sense what Jesus was on about in his life and teaching, and then do likewise.

Without a growing faith our life will just go around in circles, like continually driving around a roundabout without having any idea which direction to take. And thus we cannot be in any position to guide the next generation. Our children we have to make decisions for themselves as time goes on, and take responsibility for their own lives, but in the meantime we must have a legacy of faith to pass on to them, indeed a legacy of faith that can survive through many generations to come.

2. Pray in the Holy Spirit

We need to pray for our children by name, understanding their individual personalities, and bringing before God their particular needs. And these are not just words thrown into the air, or wishes before you blow out the birthday candles – these are prayers being placed into the very heart of God. And when we are not sure what to pray or how to pray, the Holy Spirit interprets our heartfelt groanings to God on our behalf.

3. Keep Yourselves in the Love of God

How can we “keep” ourselves in the love of God (such that we can pass on this knowledge of God’s love)???

· Be thoroughly immersed in God’s Word; where lessons for life can be read, interpreted and applied.
· Be a consistent participant in collective worship; to bring our family up in the context of a faithful worshipping community, while being no guarantee, is the best way forward in setting young people on the right track.
· Have fellowship with God’s people; where trials and joys can be shared, and where encouragement and mutual learning brings growth.
· Be a contributor to the work of God in the church; to truly know God’s love requires continual experiences of God … as God moves through the church, community and world seeking relationship with people and disciples to join in the mission.

4. Look Forward to the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life

We raise our children in families and in church communities with one major goal in mind … that one day, by their own choosing, they will follow Jesus … that they will accept God’s forgiveness, and declare Jesus to be the Lord of their life; then from here they will lead a life of discipleship i.e. learning to know God’s will and purpose for every facet of their lives.

Sure their education is important, and we need to help our children find their vocation in life. Sure their socialization is important, learning how to interact with a wide variety of people in a diverse number of settings. Sure their physical well-being is important, opportunities to play sport, get fit, and recreate in clubs. But what ultimate value is any of this outside of knowing Jesus! All these other areas are bound to collapse eventually without the solid foundation of faith in Jesus to hold life together.

To “look forward to the mercy of Jesus” is to be desperately committed to seeing the grace of God through Jesus touch our loved ones … in such a way that their life is fully under-girded by faith. This is an experience of the mercy of Jesus that leads to “eternal life”, which is not just a statement about the afterlife, far more importantly it is a statement about the quality and sustainability of earthly life … life here and now the best way it can be lived.


Then finally in verse 22, we have further mentions of ‘mercy’. The fifth piece of advice for parents and carers here is the demonstration of compassion, so that this may likewise develop in our children.

5. Have Mercy on Others

There are many around us who find life very difficult, who do not know Jesus, who have not been guided in the truths of the Bible, who have even been badly affected by false teaching or failed philosophies, who are quite weak, who have had very tragic experiences in life, whose trust has been destroyed. Such people are not to be ostracized even further, nor heartlessly condemned. God loves such people at least as much as us.

Such mercy or compassion is sometimes going to require direct action of us. Other times it will necessitate a quiet sitting beside. But it always will require human solidarity and spiritual intuitiveness (what is God wanting to convey to this person)! All throughout such interaction though, we are to keep our own integrity intact, and not allow ourselves to be attracted to behaviour from the other side.

Our children will only be able to reflect such compassion if it has first been reflected to them. How do we respond to the strugglers and waverers? God loves the prodigals and wants us to do the same. Many people are ‘betwixt and between’, trying to have it both ways and travel on both sides of the street; they have hesitated far too long from really following Jesus. Such people are ‘at odds with themselves’. These people need to be loved into the Kingdom through the compassions of God. Sometimes though, the most compassionate route will require some very direct words, lest it will soon be too late!

"Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen."