“But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21)
You can’t get any more clear and direct than Jude’s command: “Build yourself up in your faith.” Get moving! Grow in your faithfulness! Increase in your holiness! Take initiative in your service!
But before you run off and get to work, don’t forget the rest of the sentence. Jude says you’ll build yourself up in your faith when you’re “praying in the Holy Spirit.” When you continually depend on the Spirit’s motivation, power, guidance, and wisdom, evidenced through your regular life of intimate prayer.
You’ll build yourself up in your faith when you “keep yourself in the love of God.” When you continually remember the love of God expressed through the perfect life, sacrificial death, and loving reign of Christ. When you’re satisfied with God’s love more than the world’s love or even your own love for yourself.
You’ll build yourself up in your faith when you “wait expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.” When you continually look forward to Jesus’ return to finally make all things new, and live your life in light of his coming victory rather than being anxious and depressed by what you see in the moment.
You have the responsibility to build yourself up in your faith. But the only way you’ll accomplish that is by relying on God’s sovereign gift of love through Jesus, his gift of power through the Spirit, and his gift of eternal life through Christ’s return.