The Place of Blessing

Though God’s love toward us is undeserved, unconditional, and even unsought, it is possible for us to be out of harmony with Him. To keep ourselves in the love of God, as Jude 1:21 urges us, does not mean that we should keep ourselves lovable by God, because there is this problem called sin.

To be in the love of God simply means to keep ourselves in a place where God can actively show His love toward us.

Take the prodigal son for example. He rebelled against his father, went to a distant land, and did things he should not have done. Was he still his father’s son? Of course he was. Was he in a place where his father could actively show his love to him? No, he was not.

Then there were the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were actually exposed to the truth of God’s Word. Abraham ministered to them. They were exposed to the ministry of Melchizedek as well. Yet they did not keep themselves in the love of God.

Privilege brings great responsibility. These people had no excuse. They were exposed to many amazing things, yet they fell from that place. We, too, can do the same thing. We can still be children of God, but if we are out of fellowship with Him and His people and are doing things that we should not do, then we are not in a place where God can actively demonstrate His love toward us. So we must keep ourselves in a place where God can do that.

Keep yourself from all that is unlike God. Keep yourself from any influence that would violate His love and bring sorrow to His heart.