kept

I found another gift in an obscure place this morning. I think of Jude’s letter to the churches as pretty grim, a fire and brimstone sermon. But look what’s there, in teh greeting in Jude 1:1-2: “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”

What jumped out at me this morning was the little word “kept.” Kept for Jesus Christ. In fact, called, and then loved by God and kept for Jesus.

There’s a ton of meaning suggested by the word kept. It implies someone else is bearing the cost. It infers that someone else is protecting from danger. It suggests that someone is nurturing and encouraging.

That’s what Jesus did for me, and for all the saints in all of the many congregations that make up the universal church. Once he paid the price for all my sin, God sees only Christ’s righteousness when he looks at me. He no longer sees all my sin stains and sin scars. He sees one of Jesus’ beloved, and he loves me and . . . keeps me. For Jesus. All of those things suggested by that word, he does.

It’s another wonderful Christmas gift, only possible because of the first Christmas. And it’s a big deal.