BUILD YOURSELVES UP / JUDE 1:20-21

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Jude 1:20

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Anchored in Truth: Four Ways to Build Yourselves Up

In a world filled with shifting cultural tides and compromising ideas, standing firm in the truth can feel like an uphill battle. The brief but powerful New Testament letter of Jude addresses this exact struggle. While much of his letter warns against deceptive influences, Jude pivots beautifully in Jude 1:20-21 to give us an active, practical battle plan for spiritual stability:

“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray 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.”

Jude reminds us that true believers are not passive bystanders. We must actively defend, promote, and resist false teaching. Here are the four distinct ways Jude outlines for us to build ourselves up and stay anchored.

1. Dig Deep into the Word of God

The “most holy faith” Jude refers to is not a vague feeling or a personal opinion. It is the definitive New Testament revelation handed down by Jesus Christ and His original messengers—the faith that was “once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 1:3).

Building ourselves up on this foundation requires an intentional, disciplined approach to Scripture. We must move beyond surface-level readings and commit to the diligent study of God’s Word. True growth happens when we make a determined effort to apply these timeless biblical teachings directly to our daily choices, behaviors, and mindsets (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 2:15).

2. Communicate through the Power of the Spirit

We cannot sustain our faith through human willpower alone. Jude commands us to “pray in the Holy Spirit,” which means communicating and interacting with God by relying entirely on the Spirit’s power.

When we pray in the Spirit, we depend on Him to inspire, guide, energize, and sustain our conversations with God. He aligns our hearts so that we pray according to God’s perfect will (1 John 5:14) and serves as our helper in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:18). This comprehensive prayer life engages both our mind—praying with understanding in our own native language—and our spirit as we yield to His internal prompting (1 Corinthians 14:15).

3. Rest Under the Influence of God’s Love

Jude charges us to “keep yourselves in God’s love.” This does not mean we must earn God’s affection; rather, it means we must deliberately live under the constant care, protection, and influence of His love.

How do we practically remain there? Jesus gave us the answer clear as day: through faithful obedience to His Word. In John 15:9-10, Jesus explains that when we keep His commands, we remain securely in His love. Walking in obedience keeps our hearts sensitive to His presence and shields us from the damaging deceptions of the world.

4. Live with Eager Anticipation of His Return

Finally, a resilient faith requires a forward-looking perspective. We are called to live with great desire and anticipation for Jesus’ return and the eternal glory that will accompany it.

When our daily thoughts are shaped by the reality of eternity and the promise of Christ’s ultimate mercy, the temporary distractions and false teachings of this world lose their pull. Looking forward to our heavenly home (John 14:2) provides the ultimate endurance to stand strong today, knowing that our final victory is already secured.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the firm, unshakeable foundation of the holy faith handed down through Your Word. Forgive us for the times we have tried to stand on our own strength or drifted into passive routines. Today, we ask for the grace and discipline to build ourselves up continually in Your truth.

Holy Spirit, we invite You to breathe life into our prayers. Inspire us, guide our thoughts, and give us the discernment needed to recognize and resist deception. Teach us to pray according to Your perfect will and anchor us deeply in the Father’s love.

Help us walk in joyful obedience to Your commands this week. Keep our eyes fixed firmly on the horizon, living each day with an eager expectation for the glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His mighty and holy name we pray, Amen.

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Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

Guided By Grace

Summary

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BUILD YOURSELVES UP / JUDE 1:20-21

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True believers must defend and promote the Christian faith and resist false teaching in four ways:

Author

Margarita Crews

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