Happy Friday after Thanksgiving! For some, we know this as a big retail shopping holiday. I refuse to participate in “Black Friday” shopping because I would rather all those businesses be closed one extra day and all those retail workers get an extra day off to be with their family and friends. But that’s just my view of this day in America’s culture. If you need a new song to properly demonstrate what is truly important in this life, listen to this beautiful song by JJ Heller.
November 27
8In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct-as irrational animals do-will destroy them. (Jude 8-10)
I did a little research on these verses. One might just breeze over verse 9 and this story of Michael arguing with the devil over the body of Moses. It stuck out to me because it is a story not found in the Bible. So what is Jude referring to? According to my research, during the first century the Israelites had a text called “The Assumption of Moses” that researchers claim is where Jude took this reference from. I found a copy through GOOGLE books and did a quick skim of it, but could not find a reference containing a scene where Michael and satan were arguing over Moses. So I do not have a clear explanation for verse 9. But as for verses 8 and 10, those are pretty obvious what Jude is referring to.
As we saw yesterday, Jude warned his audience against ungodly false prophets. Today he offers some clues on how to identify the ungodly: they pollute their own bodies (drugs, alcohol, unhealthy eating), reject authority (a growing trend in 2020), and despite claiming not to believe in God, blame Him for all the problems the ungodly have caused (heaping abuse on celestial beings). Jude nails it when he states the ungodly slander whatever they do not understand. It is scary to think that nearly 2000 years later, not much has changed. That’s why we need to rise up and be the change this world desperately longs for.
Reading plan: Jude 5-16
Deeper reading plan: Zephaniah 2:1-11
Prayer and meditation: Today we thank God for all those who work in retail and we hope they are treated with respect on this day of retail madness. Pray for our country. Pray for love to conquer all. Pray for revival that is permanent and world changing.
Fitness challenge: Day 88-88 reps
- Hand-release Push-up
- Sit-up
- Jumping squat
- Leg lift
- Burpees
Friday fun run: We’re putting a lot of miles in during the week, so Friday’s are for stretching and doing a light one-mile jog.
Common Sense Reborn 