Jude 24–25 (ESV)
Doxology
24 Now to him
who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.
Amen.
What is a doxology? If you break this word down, it is coming from doxa [glory] and logos [speaking], so it is glory speaking. So it is giving God praise and glory,
often found at the end of hymns, prayers, and scriptures. In this particular doxology, there is a lot of Theology. Verse 24 takes credit away from us and puts it on God. This is contrary to how we think. We want to take credit for our
own life, our own walk with God, our own sanctification,... it’s all about me, me, me, and what I do for God. This is called “anthropocentric” theology which is “man centered” theology. Yet verse 24 is not anthropocentric,
but Christocentric (Christ centered) theology. Verse 24 may read better as: “Now to God who is able to keep YOU from stumbling and to present YOU blameless before the presence of God’s Glory with great joy....” This reminds me
of Martin Luther’s statement in the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened
me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” [Luther’s Small Catechism] It is God who calls us, it is God who washes us, it is God who forgives us, it is God who sanctifies us,... it is God is at work in us. It is so
easy to take God out of this work and say it is me. It’s not me, but God’s work! I pray: Lord, so often I want to take credit for your work and say it is me who is changing instead of giving credit to You Lord, that You are
changing me. I give thanks that you are still working on me. Direct me and guide me according to your will, not mine. Amen.