Jude 1:23 KJV – ‘And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire…’
You maybe aware of believers who are living in sin, but you are not sure what steps or actions you should take. You might even wonder if it’s your responsibility to do anything. Still, every time you see them there’s a feeling that something isn’t right.
You think to yourself:
- What attitude does God expect me to have regarding this person’s sin?
- What kind of action does God expect me to take to see them delivered?
Wonder no more. The answer to these questions is found in Jude 1:23. In this verse, Jude compels us to, “save [others] with fear, pulling them out of the fire…”
When Jude tells us to “save [them] with fear,” he suggests a strong dose of respect for something that is life-threatening, dangerous, or alarming. This reminds us what kind of attitude we should have towards sin. Sin is dangerous, alarming, and even life-threatening to a person’s spiritual and physical well-being.
Remember it leads to death spiritually and literally. Therefore, sin must not be tolerated, nor should the effects of sin be watered down. In short, we should have no stomach for sin.
Jude 1:23 also tells us what action we must take when we see fellow believers caught in sin. The NIV version uses the word ‘snatching’ suggesting that we need to act fast. There is no time to waste when a fellow brother or sister is in the fire. The reference to snatching from the fire actually comes from Colossians 1:13 which details the moment Jesus Christ broke Satan’s power over our lives and snatched us out of the kingdom of darkness.
Think back for a minute to Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Lot was so caught up in Sodom and Gomorrah that when the angels told him the two cities were about to be destroyed, he wanted to stay anyway! The angels had to take him by the hand and make him leave! They had to forcibly remove him from that situation; otherwise, he would have been destroyed.
The angels literally dragged Lot out of the city against his will (Genesis 19:16). Likewise, we must do everything within our power to snatch people from spiritually dangerous predicaments. Although they may not feel the heat of the fire at the moment or realize the seriousness of their spiritual condition, we must speak forcefully and truthfully to them in order to seize their hearts and minds away from what is taking their freedom.
If you know someone who is drifting away from a life of purity and genuine relationship with the Lord, pray for a door to open. Pray that God will allow and help you to speak His truth in love so that they may be saved from impending destruction. Think about it this way — if you were about to make a major spiritual error, wouldn’t you want your friends to speak the truth in love to you? It shows you who your real friends are, doesn’t it?
So, believe God for an open door. He will show you how and when to speak the truth.
PRAYER: Lord, give me Your heart for brothers and sisters who are living in sin. Forgive me for the times I have been insensitive to the dangerous nature of sin. Help me to be passionate and fervent in prayer for them and to keep praying for them until their deliverance is complete and they are fully restored in Jesus name, amen.