NOTES for Jud 1:20-21
Perhaps the newest in the New Testament, in Christianity is the understanding of the fact that the plenitude and the meaning of human life are achieved in its connection with God's life. In such a connection, where the human personality is not consumed, the human will doesn’t diminish, the human freedom is not rejected, - but also where the divine righteousness, the truth don’t get lost. A meeting takes place here between God and man, voluntary connection of their creative actions, the synergy (according to the expression of the Fathers of the Church), whereby all the Creation is raised to its Creator.
That is exactly how the apostle Jude counsels his pasture. He says that we have to make something: to built up oneself, keep, pray, looking. It is somehow about our own efforts. But... Let’s notice: he calls us to build our life on faith - "most holy", that is to the highest degree belonging to the God; pray- but not with your “weak strengths”, but with the Holy Spirit (See Rom. 8:26); keep yourself- but in the love of God; looking for not only the future, but also the fact that the Lord Jesus-Christ will lead us into eternal life. As usual in Christianity, there is also a paradox here. We can work, but it is vain without God's participation. Everything comes true with God, but without our participation it does not concern us.