Kept by His Power

The Bible tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God (see Jude 1:21). But we are also told in the same passage that God will keep us (see verse 1). So who is keeping what for whom? Is this a contradiction? Not at all. The truth is, these verses complement one another, showing us both God’s part and ours. No, we don’t keep ourselves saved . . . but we can keep ourselves safe.

God’s love is unconditional. And—most happily for us—Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father. But we can do things that will get us out of sync and out of harmony with His love. That’s why we’re reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we’re to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep our distance from any influence that would violate God’s love and bring sorrow to His heart.

We are loved by God, and He will protect His investment. Think about it: If you own an inexpensive pair of sunglasses, you may not be all that concerned about where they are. But if you have a really nice, expensive pair, then you will tend to know their whereabouts. Or, if you went to Disneyland with your children, you wouldn’t just forget about them. Instead, you would keep your eye on them because you want to protect what is dear to you.

In the same way, we are preserved, protected, and kept by the power of God. Peter said, "And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see" (1 Peter 1:5, NLT).

Even so, we, too, have a responsibility. We need to keep ourselves in a place where He can actively show His love to us. We need to keep ourselves in the love of God.