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Jude 1:1

1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:


Namedroppers, we all do it knowingly or unknowingly.
Those who do it knowingly make it clear that they know some important people, even though they really may not know them personally, but they are quick to mention the names of those they have seen or heard.
There are also those who are namedroppers unknowingly, we all have done it where we brag on our church, or pastor, or a church that we went to bragging on who we listened to teaching God's word.
I am just as guilty as you are when I go to a church or a conference and tell others how I saw so and so preach in person.

But in today's devotional verse is an example of a man who is not a namedropper. Who was this man? None other then Jude.
So, who is Jude you may be wondering?
Jude was the brother to James who wrote the book of James
If you know who James is, then you also know that he was the half brother of Jesus, which would also make Jude the half brother of Jesus also (same mother, Mary, different fathers, God and Joseph).

But I want you to notice how both Jude and James address themselves in their letters.

  • James 1:1a James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,


  • Jude 1:1a Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,


    • Notice they did not say that they were the brothers of Jesus, but rather a bondservant of Jesus Christ.
    They could have pushed their weight around being brothers to Jesus, but instead they humbled themselves, and wanted Jesus to be glorified, and not the fact that they were physically related to Jesus.

    So how does this apply to us today?
    We tend to want to be accepted because of the name of the church we attend, or who our pastor is, instead of being bondservants to Jesus Christ.
    Think about this for this next week. Are you spending more time talking about your church, or pastor, or a Christian conference that you went to verses Jesus?
    When you die and are in heaven, will you be bragging on your church or favorite pastor, or will you truly worship the one Who saved you from your sins?
    If you need to be a namedropper, why not tell others about Jesus instead of your church.
    We are instructed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, not the gospel of Calvary Chapel, First Baptist church of _______, the Vineyard, or what ever your church is named. Nor are we to share the words of man but rather the word of God!

  • Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.


    • What gospel are you preaching, or whom are you lifting up with your words, man or Jesus?

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