Called, Beloved, and Kept — Jude 1:1
The Word: “To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.”
The Breakdown: In his epistle, Jude describes Christians as being called, beloved, and kept. These are three key defining words that describe the life of believers. Called refers to God’s elective call to salvation whereby He calls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9). Beloved refers to the unconditional and unending love that God shows to us, which is demonstrated in the crucifixion of Christ (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). And kept (preserved) refers to the completion of salvation that we will receive through the security that is found in Christ.
Activate: Dwell upon these wondrous truths. Take great joy in the fact that you have been “called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6), that you are passionately loved (Rom. 8:38-39), and that you are “kept by the power of God through faith for salvation” (1 Pet. 1:5).
A Thought: Let these truths persuade you that nothing can separate you from the love of God!
