“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of G-d, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Love. It’s a funny thing. Sometimes it comes on suddenly – like the first time you hold your new born child – and other times it grows slowly and steadily over time. But love, no matter how or when it finds you, must be nurtured or it will grow cold. 

We nurture love in relationships by communicating and spending time together. We feed love by thinking positive, good thoughts about the person. We water love with kind words and kind actions. We guard love fiercely by keeping our predators of all types – distraction, bitterness, and other lovers. 

The love we have with and for G-d is much the same way I think. Some of us had a sudden revelation and were saved, others, like me, knew about Him from a young age but didn’t know Him as my personal savior until much later. But when we experience His love, we nurture it, we feed it, we water it, and we protect it, fiercely. 

The Greek word for keep in this passage means to cause one to persevere or stand firm in. We are charged in standing firm and preserving His love. His love for me does not change, but my response to His love can affect how I experience and grow in it. Do I fiercely protect my relationship with Him, thinking well of of Him, speaking to Him, and listening to Him, or do I come to Him once a week or once a year for a quick encounter? He is after all of me, the best of me, at all times. 

May I be a fierce keeper of His love, guarding it above all else through word, action, and deed. More of Him. Less of me. Always. 

Father – thank You for loving me. I do not deserve it yet You lavish it so freely. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude 1

December 25, 2022