Hating the spotted garment

Jude 1:23

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude has told us that compassion makes a difference. Of some have compassion, he says, making a difference. We can see over and over again innumerable times in life that the one thing that makes a difference is compassion. Nothing has the power that compassion has. Nothing can go where compassion can go. Nothing is as life-changing as compassion is. Compassion can win a person that was otherwise utterly incorrigible and implacable and unreachable. Did not Christ show us this by showing His own compassion on us through the cross? He had compassion on faltering, failing mankind. He had compassion on those who could never help themselves. And when we begin to learn compassion, our lives and the lives of others about us will be positively and wonderfully affected. But let us not forget that Jude also says there is a time in which we must “save with fear.” We must “pull them out of the fire.” Some are heading headlong to a terrible destruction, and we must not take time to wait and see it happen. We must save with fear! And in the process, we must hate the garment that is spotted by the flesh. We thank the Lord God that our garments can be made white in the blood of the Lamb. But that blood must be applied.

We must hate the spotted garment! The garment that has been tainted, that has been soiled and blotted, that has been blotched with the sins of the flesh. Whether it is to hate it in others, and seek to save them from the mark of sin, or whether it is to save ourselves from it, we must hate it. Dear friend, do you hate fleshly actions, pride, and sin? Do you hate impurity? Can you cast off the filthy garment that Christ may cleanse you again? You must hate the spotted garment. And, thank God, if you will turn to Christ, He will purge you with hyssop, and you shall be clean, and He will wash you, and you shall be whiter than snow. Ask the Lord to give you a hatred for sin, and ask Him to cleanse you deeply and thoroughly from all sin. Let us walk with pure garments!

“Father, we know that it is often easier to notice the sins of others, when we have impurities ourselves. Help us to save from the fire those that are perishing. But help us also to save from judgment our own selves. May we have a hatred and disdain for all sin, and a strong and true desire for purity in our hearts, minds, and bodies. Cleanse us anew this day. And as we enter your house, may we be clean and pure before our Lord. May the blood of Christ cover all sin, and cleanse us for His glory. We pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”