Jude 1–2 (ESV)
Greeting
1 Jude, a servant
of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 May
mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Despite the stumbling faith of Jude’s readers, he begins with comfort and encouragement. He greets the whole congregation as God’s chosen people, even though
false teachers exist among them. Today, view and address your congregation as godly and beloved, even if troubled by divisions or false teachers. For the Lord has called them by the Gospel.
I pray: Lord, grant
our congregations abundant mercy and peace; strengthen their service. Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 2190.