Mercy, peace and love

Monday March 7, 2022

Mercy, peace and love

Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, who are animated in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ : May mercy, peace and love be multiplied unto you ! Beloved, while I longed to write to you about our common salvation, I felt compelled to send you this letter to urge you to contend for the faith that was given to the saints once for all. Jude 1:1-3

The leader of an army knows that to win victory over the enemy, the cohesion of his troops must be perfect. This implies that his soldiers have respect for each other and that there are no arguments between them.

The same is true for the Christian people. He must fight to maintain the faith, which comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). It has its origin in the teaching of the Lord and the preaching of the apostles. It does not change or evolve in its principles.

To fight effectively for the faith, Jude wishes that three things be very present in the army of Jesus Christ :

May mercy be multiplied to you. Mercy is the inner attitude that moves someone to care for someone in distress. If we better measure the mercy of God towards us, we will practice it more in favor of our brothers and sisters in the faith. It will keep us from the spirit of superiority and pride. It will prevent there from being among the people of God a class of tired, despised or discouraged fighters.

May peace be multiplied to you. When the peace of God fills our hearts, our thoughts and energy can be focused on our Leader to do his will. We share this peace among ourselves, we pursue it with our fellow fighters, we also bring it to those who are not yet reconciled with God. Let us ask the Lord to make us peacemakers among the people of the God of peace.

May love be multiplied to you. Let us be ever more aware of the immensity of God's love for us. Imitators of Jesus Christ, let us be ready to lay down our lives for our brothers (1 John 3:16). The enemy will not be able to do anything if we remain thus united in our love for one another.

Let us close ranks around Jesus Christ, our leader, he who, on earth, was characterized, more than anyone, by mercy, peace and love.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)