Words from the Heart

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Jude 1:2 NIV

Abundance

According to a University of British Columbia report, many Canadians believe that we hold a quarter of the world’s fresh water supply, but this abundance is more myth than reality. While 20% of fresh water in all of the world’s lakes is in Canadian lakes, only 6.5% of the world’s renewable water supply is in Canada. The total volume of water sitting in freshwater lakes is the equivalent of roughly two years’ worth of runoff from the world’s rivers.

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I often wonder what it must have been like to grow up as a sibling for Jesus. We know that when He started to perform miracles, his earthly family was concerned about their reputation, and Mark 3:21 tells us that they thought He was ought of His mind. The society in which Jesus grew up was an honour/shame one, and his family was concerned that He would embarrass them. How things changed as His ministry continued, and two of the books of the New Testament were written by half-brothers of Jesus – James and Jude. They came to see Jesus for who He truly is – and became followers and authors of New Testament books. Jude was writing to Christians who were contending for their faith. In an increasingly hostile-to-the-Gospel world, Jude begins his epistle, in Jude 1:2: “Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” Jude is praying that as these stalwart followers of Jesus stand strong in their love for the Saviour, and in their desire to share the Gospel, they would experience God’s mercy, peace and love. These are the blessings that come when we are loved by God and kept for Jesus Christ. These are your blessings.

These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley