• Those who are called
• Sanctified by God the Father
• Preserved in Jesus Christ

What does it mean to be one of those who are called?  Charles Stanley, a beloved Pastor and speaker, well known for his classic preaching style, gives us a solid description of this topic.  http://www.jesus.org/following-jesus/evangelism-and-missions/what-does-it-mean-to-be-called.html Beyond that wonderful explanation, we all clearly understand what it means for anyone to “call” us, to reach out to a particular person with a specific request, desire, favor or command.  Are you one of “those who are called”?  In many cases this refers to Christians or the Church to those who have been called out of the world for service to God’s Kingdom.  Do you feel the calling?  Can you put it to words and if so have you included it in your discipling or testimony?  What could be a more effective conversation about your salvation than the moment that you felt God’s calling upon your life?

Sanctified, set apart, made Holy for God’s intention.  We who have been called of God, have been set apart from the world, or sanctified for God’s Purpose.  We have been included in a new grouping of humans, made righteous by our belief and subsequent redemption by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Sanctification to some literally means for a thing to be employed toward its intended purpose, as evidenced here by the following; http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sanctification/  Sanctification is nonetheless a work of the Father, the designer, so it is something that was codified into the original plan for our redemption.  God calls us to be Holy and we are naturally called saints, “the sanctified ones”.

Preserved in Jesus Christ.  Protected, maintained, kept safe for the duration of time deemed necessary by the coming Kingdom of God.  Do you feel preserved, kept, covered, kept alive until the coming of eternity through the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ.  What do these first two line of the Epistle of Jude do for your hope?  Does it strengthen you to know that you have been called, sanctified and preserved?  If just two lines of the book edify you so, what then would happen if you were to  read several paragraphs?

Be alive in Christ, be Holy, Righteous and True as you have been called.  Praise God in Jesus’ Holy Name.