Keeping Yourself in Spiritual Shape

But you, beloved, [build] yourselves up in your most holy faith...

Jude 20

Jude’s message is very simple: Keep yourself in spiritual shape. It is also very practical, because Jude breaks this down into seven workouts for a healthy Christian life.

You may be committed to some kind of fitness programme. You may work out with a coach or a personal trainer who gives you an exercise routine to help you get in shape.

A good exercise routine will get you working on different muscle groups: “This one is for your abs. This one is for the quads,” etc. In any routine we’ll be drawn to some exercises, and we’ll be tempted to skip others that we don’t like doing. Remember, it’s usually the ones that you tend to skip that you most need to do.

As with any good coach, Jude’s instructions are simple. Imagine yourself standing in the middle of a field with Jude as your coach. He’s been telling us what we’re up against. Then he says to the team, “But you…”

1. Build yourself up in the faith.
2. Pray in the Holy Spirit.
3. Keep yourself in God’s love.
4. Learn to wait.
5. Reach out to others.
6. Watch yourself.
7. Rest in the triumph of God.

These verses are a gold mine of how to live the Christian life in a world of doctrinal confusion and moral compromise. Let’s work with this trainer, Jude, to get ourselves into spiritual shape.

Of the seven workouts Jude has for us, which one is your strongest area, and which one is your weakest area?