Everyone has a few favorite words. Those preferred words tend to be repeated a lot. Maybe it is a new term for them and they are “trying it out.” Or maybe they just like the way it sounds. (I am definitely one of those people. Onomatopoeia words fascinate me.)

Even our Bible authors had favorite terms. Mark loved the word, “immediately.” He was a man of action and used that term over forty times in his gospel. John on the other hand, was consumed with the word, “love”. He used it twenty-seven times in his book. Mark only wrote “love” down a mere five times.

And Jude loves the term we translate as “keep.” It is the Greek word “tereo.” It means to guard or to maintain something. It is a way to preserve important things.

In verse six of Jude’s epistle, he uses “keep” to illustrate the way the fallen angels abandoned their place in heaven. Jude says they did not “keep” their positions of authority. They had something of incredible value and yet, they did not value it enough to guard it.

In verse 21, we are all told to “keep” or guard ourselves in God’s love. Our position in Christ is of immense worth. It is more important than job, family or any life experience.  We are truly exalted in Christ and that place of eternal importance demands our vigilance.

Guarding spiritual values, maintaining moral integrity, keeping our word and protecting our testimonies are all such important parts of the Christian walk. But the pressure to maintain that watchfulness doesn’t just reside on our shoulders.

We have spiritual help. In verse one, Jude declares that we are “kept” by Jesus Christ. And in verse twenty-four he writes his favorite word one more time. Take a moment and read it out loud slowly….

“To Him who is able to KEEP you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God and Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore.”

So this week, maybe our favorite word can be “kept.” I love being “kept” by the Lord!