Friday, December 26, 2008

Seven Duties

Jude 1:20-23 KJV
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.


It seems to me that it is very difficult to keep a balanced Christian life. We either focus so much on our relationship with Christ, that we neglect any service to others or else we focus so much on our duties and service that we forget to walk with Christ. While Mary chose that more needful thing, to sit at Jesus' feet; what Martha did was needful too (just not as needful).

So Jude ends with seven duties for the saint:
1. Build yourselves up on....faith
2. Pray in the Holy Ghost
3. Keep in the love of God
4. Look for the mercy of our Lord
5. Have compassion on some
6. Save other from the fire
7. Hate even the garment spotted by the flesh (this means being afraid that as we strive to help others, we don't get carried away in their sin ourselves.)


The duties encompass both things that have to do with personal spiritual growth as well as things that have to do with ministering and serving others in the name of Christ.
Four of the duties could be considered "Mary type"
Two of the duties could be considered "Martha type."
The final duty is "Mary type" in the performance of "Martha type."

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