Scripture
“But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.” (Jude 1:17–18, NKJV)
Devotional
After giving serious warnings about false teachers, Jude turns directly to faithful believers:
“But you, beloved, remember…”
Those words matter.
Jude has described deception, rebellion, ungodliness, and people who have quietly entered the church and distorted the truth. It would be easy for believers to become frightened, discouraged, or bewildered.
But Jude tells them not to be surprised.
Remember what God has already said.
The apostles had warned that mockers would come, people who would reject God’s truth and live according to their own desires. What the believers were witnessing was not evidence that God had lost control. It was something He had already told them to expect.
Remembering God’s Word steadies us when the world becomes spiritually confusing.
When biblical truth is mocked, remember.
When what God calls sin is celebrated, remember.
When false teaching sounds persuasive, remember.
When following Christ makes us increasingly different from the culture around us, remember.
God has not been caught unaware.
There is great stability in knowing Scripture well enough that changing circumstances do not constantly shake our faith. Instead of interpreting God through what is happening around us, we interpret what is happening around us through what God has already said.
That is one reason remembering Scripture is so important.
We do not merely read the Word for information. We store it in our hearts so the Holy Spirit can bring truth to mind when we need it. What God has spoken becomes an anchor when emotions, circumstances, and voices around us pull in another direction.
Jude also makes an important distinction. After describing those who follow their own ungodly desires, he says:
“But you, beloved…”
Their path does not have to become ours.
We cannot control the direction of the culture. We cannot prevent every false teacher from speaking. We cannot stop others from rejecting truth.
But we can remember what God has said and remain faithful to Him.
The world may change.
The Word does not.
Takeaway & Reflection
Remembering God’s Word keeps us steady in spiritually confusing times.
- God has already warned His people that deception and mockery will come.
- Difficult cultural conditions do not mean God has lost control.
- Scripture gives us an unchanging standard when everything around us shifts.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Help me remember Your Word when the world around me becomes confusing. Keep me from fear, discouragement, or compromise when Your truth is rejected or mocked. Give me discernment to recognize what is false and steadfastness to remain anchored in what You have spoken. May Your Word always be the standard by which I understand the world around me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.