How can someone like me bring joy to God’s heart? The thought sends my mind spinning. Parents have placed their newborns in my hands for a prayer of dedication. In this prayer, we joyfully raise the child created in God’s image to the Creator. At the other end of our earthly journey, Jude tells us we will stand before the Almighty and see his joy.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy!
Jude 24
The voices of revival preachers in my childhood make me think of judgment. However, Jude speaks of joy. What am I missing?
God Majors on the Impossible
The young often try to imagine something God cannot do. For instance, can he create a rock so big he cannot lift it? Or can he make one-ended sticks or square circles? C. S. Lewis reminds us, “nonsense is still nonsense, even when we speak it about God.”
When we speak of God’s omnipotence, we recognize his character creates limitations. God cannot lie. Nor can he make himself imperfect or fail. Thus, Jude speaks, “To him, who is able…”
Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us God can strengthen his followers according to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25). And in his letter to the Ephesians, he awakens us to the reality that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). So, Jude places his confidence in the unlimited power of God.
God Addresses Your Missteps
Carefully note the personal impact of Jude’s words. “To him, who is able to keep you from stumbling.” I’ve spent many years close to someone who’s balance is not good. When we walk together, my eyes search for anything that might cause her to fall. My arm reaches out to give her something to help brace herself. God wants to steady us, to protect us from tripping.
The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold of me and held me fast.
Psalm 94:18, The Message
A weak ankle sometimes causes me to stumble. Yet, God’s Word reminds me:
He will not let your foot go out from under you.
Psalm 121:3, New Life Version
We read these promises even as we recognize our weaknesses. What does God expect of us? We know the reference to stumbling in this passage refers to tumbling over temptation. A look deep within reveals the obstructions blocking the paths of righteousness. Thus, the concept of presenting one to God “without fault” stirs the same illogical ideas that we conjure up in our minds. Can God walk on water at the same time he cannot walk on water? Aquinas said he could not. Can God take a sinner like me and present him without fault, without telling a lie? Simon Peter said he could.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness: by his wounds, you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24
You Will Bring Joy to God’s Heart
Not only will God scrub our scarlet stains until we are white like snow, but he will also forgive our sins and put them out of his memory. Therefore, we cannot fixate on our flaws but on the liberating truth of Jesus’ forgiveness. As we turn away from our rebellion against God and submit to Jesus the way of Jesus, he makes us pure. Therefore, he can bring us into “his glorious presence… with great joy.”
Have you ever been so excited about giving someone something that you could hardly wait to see them open the present? Do you know the joy of being able to give someone a gift you know will bring joy to their hearts? At the heart of Jude’s words is the idea that one day you will stand before the living God and see his great joy. Yes, it is possible that as you stand before God Almighty, his heart will leap for joy.
He is able to save completely those who have come to God through Him.
Hebrews 7:25
Scriptures used are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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Posted: November 24, 2020 by Harry Lucenay
How can someone like me bring joy to God’s heart? The thought sends my mind spinning. Parents have placed their newborns in my hands for a prayer of dedication. In this prayer, we joyfully raise the child created in God’s image to the Creator. At the other end of our earthly journey, Jude tells us we will stand before the Almighty and see his joy.
The voices of revival preachers in my childhood make me think of judgment. However, Jude speaks of joy. What am I missing?
God Majors on the Impossible
The young often try to imagine something God cannot do. For instance, can he create a rock so big he cannot lift it? Or can he make one-ended sticks or square circles? C. S. Lewis reminds us, “nonsense is still nonsense, even when we speak it about God.”
When we speak of God’s omnipotence, we recognize his character creates limitations. God cannot lie. Nor can he make himself imperfect or fail. Thus, Jude speaks, “To him, who is able…”
Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us God can strengthen his followers according to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25). And in his letter to the Ephesians, he awakens us to the reality that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). So, Jude places his confidence in the unlimited power of God.
God Addresses Your Missteps
Carefully note the personal impact of Jude’s words. “To him, who is able to keep you from stumbling.” I’ve spent many years close to someone who’s balance is not good. When we walk together, my eyes search for anything that might cause her to fall. My arm reaches out to give her something to help brace herself. God wants to steady us, to protect us from tripping.
A weak ankle sometimes causes me to stumble. Yet, God’s Word reminds me:
We read these promises even as we recognize our weaknesses. What does God expect of us? We know the reference to stumbling in this passage refers to tumbling over temptation. A look deep within reveals the obstructions blocking the paths of righteousness. Thus, the concept of presenting one to God “without fault” stirs the same illogical ideas that we conjure up in our minds. Can God walk on water at the same time he cannot walk on water? Aquinas said he could not. Can God take a sinner like me and present him without fault, without telling a lie? Simon Peter said he could.
You Will Bring Joy to God’s Heart
Not only will God scrub our scarlet stains until we are white like snow, but he will also forgive our sins and put them out of his memory. Therefore, we cannot fixate on our flaws but on the liberating truth of Jesus’ forgiveness. As we turn away from our rebellion against God and submit to Jesus the way of Jesus, he makes us pure. Therefore, he can bring us into “his glorious presence… with great joy.”
Have you ever been so excited about giving someone something that you could hardly wait to see them open the present? Do you know the joy of being able to give someone a gift you know will bring joy to their hearts? At the heart of Jude’s words is the idea that one day you will stand before the living God and see his great joy. Yes, it is possible that as you stand before God Almighty, his heart will leap for joy.
Scriptures used are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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Category: Christian Life Tags: Falling, Forgiveness, God's heart, joy, Limitations, Stumbling