Word for Today, Scripture Reading: Jude
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
When I am able to write to you, I continually encourage you to
read your Bibles and pray every single day. Every now and then I
share a passage of scripture with you.
Not too long ago, I shared with you Psalm 77 and 2 Corinthians 4.
If you do not remember them, I encourage you to go back and read
them soon.
Today I have included the letter of Jude. This letter is not a
word for word translation, it is what is called a paraphrase. If
you want a word accurate version, you are better off getting a
solid Bible translation and reading it. Some people stick with
the old English in the King James Version, not because it is the
easiest to read, but because it is a trustworthy translation. I
have many versions at my disposal, so I can examine the
scriptures and pick out any glaring changes on my own.
Occasionally what I like about paraphrases is that they wake up
the mind to really think about the passage. I think it is that
way with this rendition from Eugene Peterson's paraphrase from
The Message. I encourage you to read it, then go back and read a
translation and consider what's being said.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
Jude 1
1 I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James,
writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by
Jesus Christ. 2 Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest,
everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the
way!
Fight with All You Have in You
3 Dear friends, I've dropped everything to write you about
this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write
insisting--begging!-that you fight with everything you have in
you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and
cherish. 4 What has happened is that some people have infiltrated
our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who
beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design
is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer
license--which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and
only Master.
Lost Stars in Outer Space
5 I'm laying this out as clearly as I can, even though you
once knew all this well enough and shouldn't need reminding. Here
it is in brief: The Master saved a people out of the land of
Egypt. Later he destroyed those who defected. 6 And you know the
story of the angels who didn't stick to their post, abandoning it
for other, darker missions. But they are now chained and jailed
in a black hole until the great Judgment Day. 7 Sodom and
Gomorrah, which went to sexual rack and ruin along with the
surrounding cities that acted just like them, are another
example. Burning and burning and never burning up, they serve
still as a stock warning.
8 This is exactly the same program of these latest
infiltrators: dirty sex, rule and rulers thrown out, glory
dragged in the mud.
9 The Archangel Michael, who went to the mat with the Devil
as they fought over the body of Moses, wouldn't have dared level
him with a blasphemous curse, but said simply, "No you don't. God
will take care of you!" 10 But these people sneer at anything
they can't understand, and by doing whatever they feel like
doing--living by animal instinct only--they participate in their
own destruction. 11 I'm fed up with them! They've gone down
Cain's road; they've been sucked into Balaam's error by greed;
they're canceled out in Korah's rebellion.
12 These people are warts on your love feasts as you worship
and eat together. They're giving you a black eye--carousing
shamelessly, grabbing anything that isn't nailed down. They're--
Puffs of smoke pushed by gusts of wind;
late autumn trees stripped clean of leaf and fruit,
Doubly dead, pulled up by the roots;
13 wild ocean waves leaving nothing on the beach
but the foam of their shame;
Lost stars in outer space
on their way to the black hole.
14 Enoch, the seventh after Adam, prophesied of them: "Look!
The Master comes with thousands of holy angels 15 to bring
judgment against them all, convicting each person of every
defiling act of shameless sacrilege, of every dirty word they
have spewed of their pious filth." 16 These are the "grumpers,"
the bellyachers, grabbing for the biggest piece of the pie,
talking big, saying anything they think will get them ahead.
17 But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our
Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen: 18 "In the last
days there will be people who don't take these things seriously
anymore. They'll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of
their own whims and lusts." 19 These are the ones who split
churches, thinking only of themselves. There's nothing to them,
no sign of the Spirit! 20 But you, dear friends, carefully build
yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy
Spirit, 21 staying right at the center of God's love, keeping
your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our
Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. 23 Go after
those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not
soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing
tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating-- 25 to our
one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be
glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and
to the end of all time. Yes.
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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