Taking Care of Yourself! (Part 4)

TEXT:

‘Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life’ (Jude v20-21)

THOUGHT:

Part 1 focussed on “Building”. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing can stop Him from doing that. Part 2 was on “Praying in the Holy Spirit”. When we pray under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are praying according to the will of God. That can mean only one thing, prayers that will be answered! Part 3 was about God’s love and the need for us to believe God loves us and to allow that love to flow out of us in everyday life.

Prior to take-off, air passengers are made aware of the emergency procedures should anything unexpected happen during the flight. One instruction is, “If there is a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down from the ceiling. Fit your own mask first before trying to help someone else”.  This is true spiritually. Do not neglect your own relationship with the living God by being too busy with the affairs of this life or with other people. ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’ is still the best advice anyone can receive. When you do that, you are in the best position to help others.

Part 4 is about looking in the right direction for help.

• Who to look at: ‘our Lord Jesus Christ’

The Bible encourages us to look at Jesus. ‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:2). ‘Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:13). John the Baptist saw Jesus and said to the crowd, ‘Behold the Lamb of God’ (John 1:29).

It is natural to look to other people, but we need to look to Jesus. When the lame man was healed, Peter and John said, ‘Why look at us as though we by our own power and godliness had made this man walk?’ (Acts 3:12 TLB). Paul and Barnabas said something similar when another lame man was healed. ¹ The One who did the miracle should get the glory and the disciples made it abundantly clear it was Jesus!

If we look at people, sooner or later we will be disappointed by their failures and inability to help in our time of need. The Psalmist said he would lift up his eyes, higher than the hills, until he saw the Lord. ² What direction are you looking in?

• What to look for: ‘mercy’

Mercy is something we can always find with God because He is rich in mercy. ³ The greatest danger is when people think they deserve God’s blessing and favour. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus taught a parable about two men praying. The Pharisee talked to himself (not with God!) about how good he was. The tax collector cried, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner’ (Luke 18:14). Only one of them went home justified because of his prayer.

In case the disciples thought more of themselves than they should because of the success of their missions, Jesus brought them back to earth when He said, ‘When you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do’ (Luke 17:10 AMP).

A great song by Vicky Beeching has the chorus, “May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross. May I see it like the first time, standing as a sinner lost! Undone by mercy and left speechless, watching wide eyed at the cost. May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross”.

Only the guilty need mercy, which is why God said, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). Now all can experience His mercy if they look to Jesus. It is important to remember we should not to look to receive what we are not willing to give. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’ (Matthew 5:7).

• Why to keep looking: ‘unto eternal life’

There is eternal life at stake. This is why Jesus came. ‘I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of’ (John 10:10 MSG). ‘Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:26). A Christian will die physically, unless Jesus returns first, but to die spiritually, NO! Our born again spirit has the life of God in it and lives for ever. One day it will have a new body to match.

We cannot fix our eyes on this life, it is passing away. There is a new heaven and earth coming. The temporary will be removed so that the permanent will remain. ⁴

Covid-19 is all about the fear of death and the frantic steps taken to stop it. Yet everyone will die one day. What do they have to look forward to when that happens? The fear of the unknown or the assurance of eternal life!

Once you are certain Jesus is your Saviour and you have eternal life, you will then start helping to take care of others, by sharing the Good News with them too!

Endnotes:

¹ Acts 14:8-18

² Psalm 121:1-2

³ Ephesians 2:4

⁴ Hebrews 12:27