Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Mercy Through Pizza was written by Karen Huang.

The invitation for dinner from my church leader Harold and his wife Pam warmed my heart,

but also made me nervous. I joined a college Bible study group that taught ideas that

contradicted some of the teachings in the Bible. Would they lecture me about that?

Over pizza, they shared about their family and asked about mine.

They listened as I talked about homework, my dog, Bucci, and the guy I had a crush on.

Only later did they gently caution me about the group I was attending and explain what was wrong with its teachings.

Their warning took me away from the lies presented in the Bible study and close to the

truths of Scripture. In his letter, Jude uses strong language about false teachers,

urging believers to contend for the faith. He reminded

them that in the last times there will be scoffers who divide you and do not have the spirit.

However, Jude also calls on believers to be merciful to those who doubt, by coming alongside them, showing compassion without compromising the truth.

Harold and Pam knew I wasn't firmly grounded in my faith, but instead of judging me, they first offered their friendship and then their

wisdom. May God give us this same love and patience, using wisdom and compassion as we interact

with those who have doubts.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Jude chapter 1,

verses 17 through 23.

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, in the last times there will be scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires.

These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts,

and do not have the spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most

holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love

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