Old Testament Scripture Reading: (2 Chronicles 36:16 – 21 KJV)
2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
2Ch 36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
2Ch 36:18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
2Ch 36:19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
2Ch 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
2Ch 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
New Testament Scripture Reading: (Jude 1:17 – 25 KJV)
Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) It is easy for the people of God, who are always covered under His grace and blessings to become self-centered and selfish to the point of thinking that we deserve all the blessings rather than understanding that we only receive them because of the kindness of God toward us, and that we should ever be thankful toward God Who is rich in mercy and does not reward us based on our “good works” but rather out of His kindness!
2) When ancient Israel had been lavished in God’s unmitigated mercies and overflowing grace to become the greatest nation of all time in the history of the world, the cruel insensitiveness of self deceit produced a high-minded attitude toward the Prophets God sent to administer a righteous discipline to keep them from thinking too highly of themselves, but rather to rely on God by passing off all glory to Him alone in the eyes of the on-looking Gentiles, which pressed them to the point that judgment came in like a whirlwind rendering the entire nation into the wrath of God.
3) Jude in like manner warns the Church to “Keep themselves in the Love of God” with all eyes on the mercies and graces of Jesus Christ walking in the fear of God as we dedicate ourselves to a discipline toward people on the fringes of salvation as an act of emulation of sacrificial love as modeled by our LORD Jesus!