To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. (Jude 24)


IN THIS AGE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, we may be told it is rude to tell people about our faith because we are supposed to be tolerant of others’ beliefs. Yet telling what Christ has done for us is a matter of life or death. In The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson recounts that, as a young preacher, he saw pictures of young gang members on trial for murder and felt an urgent desire to help them. It was not easy to leave the safety of a small town to go to gang-riddled New York City and try to persuade hardened and hate-filled gang members to listen to the gospel. But the result was that many gang members and drug addicts were transformed by the mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

Jude encouraged us to speak with compassion to people who need to know God’s mercy. He also warned that we could be corrupted by those we’re trying to help. Therefore, we must first be sure of our faith, knowing that Jesus is God’s Son who lived on earth, died, and rose again from the dead. If we have received Him as Savior and Lord, know the Bible well, and follow His plans for us, God will make us strong enough to resist being sucked into wrong beliefs.

Pray for an unsaved friend or acquaintance and look for opportunities to share the gospel.

Judith Vander Wege is a member of the worship committee, choir, and praise team at her church and plays the accordion for senior citizens.