Jude 22–23 — “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Years ago, my wife and I were swimming in the Atlantic in shoulder-deep water. We felt safe. We could touch the bottom, bobbing over the waves with ease. As we moved back toward shore, we quickly realized a rip current was pulling us aggressively out to sea. That first second puts you into pure panic. Then, because we had listened to the lifeguard’s briefing, we remembered: swim parallel to shore. We did, and made it back safely.
Jude understood rip currents. He watched false teachers drag people away from the faith: slowly at first, imperceptibly, until they were too far out to touch bottom. His response wasn’t condemnation. It was a rescue plan.
Verse 22 begins with self-protection: keep yourself in the love of God, anchored to eternity, fixed on Christ. A lifeguard who cannot swim saves no one. We must stay relentlessly grounded in Scripture, aware of the currents designed to pull us from safety. Only the prepared can rescue the endangered.
Verse 23 deploys us outward. God has positioned you uniquely among people being dragged out to sea right now. Some are doubting, just beginning to drift. Some are deep in the current, desperate. Some are nearly gone. Each one needs a different response: mercy, urgency, or caution. But every response begins with someone willing to get in the water.
That day in the Atlantic, there was no lifeguard on duty. Today, for someone in your life, you are the one on duty.
Will you be ready when they need you?
Stay on Mission
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