My sheep listen to my voice, I recognise them, they follow me, and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hands. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30 (Complete Jewish Bible)
These verses are a wonderful series of life-affirming statements. If you can, perhaps allow yourself a few minutes to become aware that you’re being held in the hands of Jesus and of the Father. So, here are a few things to reflect on …
You are one of Jesus’ sheep and you are listening out for His voice. He wants you to know that He knows you and sees that you’re following Him. You are not being ignored or insignificant to Him. Eternal life is His gift to you: it’s His life He’s sharing with you, life that is good and cannot be destroyed.
Jesus is enfolding you in His hands and you are also enfolded in the Father’s hands.
The Father is greater and mightier than all, so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief.
He is more powerful than anyone else and He has given you to Jesus to be in His care.
It is an absolute certainty that you will never be destroyed. You will never be snatched away from the care of Jesus and the Father. Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, will not allow anything in the territory of heaven or on earth to tear you away from His hands.
The Lord is my Shepherd (based on Psalm 23)
A shepherd looks after a lot of sheep.
He is a Shepherd to all the flock but he is also a Shepherd to me
(just imagine a flock of sheep – and I am one of them)
He is my Shepherd – He looks out for me!
I am very precious to Him
In the same way that all the others are precious to Him.
It’s very easy to compare myself with the other sheep –
But I am one of His sheep – and He is interested in me too!
We, all of us, are in the care of the same Shepherd
And the Shepherd is concerned that we are all kept safe
From fear in the shadow of death and amongst enemies,
The ninety-nine and the hundredth one too!
He wants us all to know that same care –
There’s a table full of good things –
His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives,
Full and overflowing.
Lord Jesus, I really want to say a big thank You. You are the Good and true Shepherd Who I can trust to guide me in all my ways. Amen.