Lectionary Calendar
Friday, March 29th, 2024
Good Friday
There are 2 days til Easter!
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Daily Devotionals
Discovering Christ Day by Day
Devotional: December 24th

Resource Toolbox

Today’s Reading: 2 John-Jude

“Him that is Able”

Judges 1:24

As Jude comes to the close of his Epistle, having warned us of the incessant assaults of hell, showing us the terrible apostasy of many, he urges us to “keep ourselves in the love of God.” And he tells us that we must do so, “building ourselves up in our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When I read that admonition, immediately my thought is, “But I can’t do that. I’m too weak, too sinful. I cannot keep myself in the love of God. It is my responsibility. I must do it. There the commandment stands. — ‘Keep yourselves in the love of God.’ But I can’t do it.” Then, I read verses 24 and 25, and my heart dances with joy. I can’t keep myself; but God my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ can and will keep me. And keeping me, he will cause me to keep myself.

Having told us what we must do, Jude commends us to the grace and power of God our Savior, teaching us to trust him, from whom alone we expect eternal life. Oh, for grace to trust him who alone is able to keep us from falling. Except he keep us, we can never keep ourselves.

Who?

When Jude speaks of “him that is able to keep you,” I have to ask, of whom does he speak? Without question, God the Father, our heavenly Father, is able to keep us. With God all things are possible. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. Jude here assures us that our God’s omnipotent power and ability is engaged by promise and by covenant office as our Father.

God the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption, is able to keep us, and is engaged to do so. He who is the Earnest of our inheritance will make certain that we come into the full possession of our inheritance.

And God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Guardian of our souls, the Shepherd of the sheep, and the King of Zion, is able to keep us, and is engaged to do so as our covenant Surety. In a word, the eternal, triune God is our Keeper.

We fall not, because God will not let go his hold upon us. Our necessities and difficulties are so great that nothing less than divine power can keep us. We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” —“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand” (Psalms 121:4-5).

Our weak flesh says, “I will fail.” The world says, “I will choke out the influence of the Word of God upon them.” False religion says, “I will deceive them.” The devil says, “I will take them.” But he who is God our Savior, the Custodian of our souls, says, “I will keep them. I will never fail them, nor forsake them.” That is our safety and security!

Our Relief

What a great relief it is to my feeble faith to read of “Him that is able to keep you!” It is “him that is able to keep you,” who said, — “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). He declares in his Word that all his own shall stand firm in his grace on this earth until they stand in the fulness of his glory in heaven. — “Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).

Boaz and Jachin

At Solomon’s command, we are told that Hiram set two pillars in the porch of the temple and named them “Boaz” and “Jachin.” “Boaz” means “Strength.” And “Jachin” means “he will establish” (1 Kings 7:21). Boaz, as you know, typified Christ our Kinsman-Redeemer. Jachin was a priest in Israel. As such, he was also typical of our Savior. And Christ our Redeemer and Priest is our Strength, and he will establish. The power of God and the grace of God in him are the two pillars upon which our confidence stands.

God’s Power

Here is the power of God our Savior. — He who is our omnipotent Savior is “Him that is able.” What a great thought that is! He who is our God and Savior is a God with whom all things are possible. — “He is able!” Those three words mean that nothing is too hard for the Lord. No problem is too great for him. — “With God nothing shall be impossible!

Subscribe …
Get the latest devotional delivered straight to your inbox every week by signing up for the "Discovering Christ Day by Day" subscription list. Simply provide your email address below, click on "Subscribe!", and you'll receive a confirmation email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription to this list.
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile