No One Will Snatch Them out of My Hand
No One Will Snatch Them out of My Hand
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Each weekday morning, we’re going to spend a few minutes in a passage in John. Here’s the goal: read it, pray it, share it. Every post will have a passage of Scripture, a short prayer, and a question to meditate on and talk about. In a few minutes every day, we can prepare our hearts for all that God has planned in this season of Lent.
Read: John 10:22-30
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, [26] but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.” (ESV)
It’s easy to think if we’d been there we would have believed Jesus instantly. How could you see the signs and not know that he was the Messiah? How could you be around him every day and still wonder if he was who he said he was? As this story reminds us, people doubted. Even after Jesus rose from the dead, Matthew writes, “And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” We’ve all lived a portion of our lives where we were part of this number.
When you hear his voice, everything changes. When you see him and know him, when the lights come on and you realize that he’s exactly who he claims to be, your life is never the same. Jesus promises here what he’s been talking about in the first part of this chapter. Whoever knows Christ knows life, fullness, and joy. And we know that if we are his, nothing can ever take us away from him. What could be strong enough to take us away?
The Apostle Paul put it best, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
Pray:
Lord, thank you that I know you. Thank you for opening my eyes to see who you are. Even when I didn’t, when I had doubts, you pursued me and now I’ll be with you for eternity. Help me to hear your voice today. Teach me to follow you with every step.
Share:
Jesus says his sheep hear his voice, know him, and follow him. Have you seen this pattern in your life? Is there anything you’re hearing from God but hesitant to follow?
Do you remember a season of doubt? What brought you clarity? How can you share that with someone in a season of doubt?
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Each weekday morning, we’re going to spend a few minutes in a passage in John. Here’s the goal: read it, pray it, share it. Every post will have a passage of Scripture, a short prayer, and a question to meditate on and talk about. In a few minutes every day, we can prepare our hearts for all that God has planned in this season of Lent.
Read: John 10:22-30
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, [26] but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.” (ESV)
It’s easy to think if we’d been there we would have believed Jesus instantly. How could you see the signs and not know that he was the Messiah? How could you be around him every day and still wonder if he was who he said he was? As this story reminds us, people doubted. Even after Jesus rose from the dead, Matthew writes, “And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” We’ve all lived a portion of our lives where we were part of this number.
When you hear his voice, everything changes. When you see him and know him, when the lights come on and you realize that he’s exactly who he claims to be, your life is never the same. Jesus promises here what he’s been talking about in the first part of this chapter. Whoever knows Christ knows life, fullness, and joy. And we know that if we are his, nothing can ever take us away from him. What could be strong enough to take us away?
The Apostle Paul put it best, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
Pray:
Lord, thank you that I know you. Thank you for opening my eyes to see who you are. Even when I didn’t, when I had doubts, you pursued me and now I’ll be with you for eternity. Help me to hear your voice today. Teach me to follow you with every step.
Share:
Jesus says his sheep hear his voice, know him, and follow him. Have you seen this pattern in your life? Is there anything you’re hearing from God but hesitant to follow?
Do you remember a season of doubt? What brought you clarity? How can you share that with someone in a season of doubt?
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Lent: Turning Our Hearts to EasterJesus Moves Into the NeighborhoodHe Must Increase, I Must DecreaseSigns of CelebrationThe Long GameA Full Heart and an Empty JarThe Cost of Being HealedPhysically Fed, Spiritually SatisfiedOne Step CloserWalk in the LightSet Free ForeverNo One Will Snatch Them out of My HandThankfulness OverflowingLook and Be HealedAll of Him for All of YouThe Unglamorous Kind of ServiceNever AloneThat Your Joy May Be FullThe Greatest Act of Love
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