No Snatching!

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 10 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice…

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, 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. (John 10:4, 27-29, NASB)


REFLECTIONS:
Years before caller ID or personalized ringtones, answering the phone was a bit of a mystery. Trying to figure out who was on the other end before they could identify themselves provided a level of challenge. 

When our girls were getting old enough to answer the phone, we often played the “I wonder who that could be?” game. They loved figuring out if it was their dad on his way home from work. They felt such achievement when they answered and could discern their daddy’s voice then announce, “Daddy’s on his way!”

The verses in chapter 10 tell us of how Jesus came to be the good shepherd to protect and claim the sheep of His fold. Jesus says He is the doorkeeper for us, that He is the one who lies on the ground at the doorway of our life and keeps the thieves and robbers out of His pasture. Jesus tends His flock with a generous love given to Him through the authority of His Father. Jesus calls out to all: Jews, Gentiles, Romans, Greek, Arabs, those in government, those in religious hierarchy, those begging on the street, and those eagerly waiting for Him. 

Jesus tells us in this chapter that He is ours and we are His… and that He is going first. It reminds me of the chorus from the hymn “In the Garden”: “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.”  Not only does Christ tells us that He is our own, He is also the protector standing/laying down His life for us.  And He is longing for us to talk with Him because He wants to talk with us. He wants us to listen and truly hear His voice.

Ray Hughes, founder of Selah Ministries and teacher on the power of sound and Biblical foundations of praise, says that one of the muscles in our ear is the first to develop in our mother’s womb and the last one to quit quivering at our death. Dr. Hughes teaches it is our body’s way to continually be in communication with our Lord from our physical beginning to our physical end. We just have to align ourselves to hear the voice of the good shepherd. 

I believe one of the beauties of our relationship with Christ is that it goes both ways. Jesus sacrifices for us—His sheep.  Jesus knows us—His sheep. Jesus is known by us—His sheep. Isn’t that lovely! What Jesus wants from us, He is willing to give us. 

Did you notice as the verses continue on Jesus says, “… I give eternal life to them… no one can snatch them out of My hand.” The “them” is the fold of believers, His sheep, us. Jesus reinforces what He is teaching in verse 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.”

Jesus proclaims His authority in His Father, God to shepherd us—His sheep. 

 

So, I’m not sure where all this rambling is going except to say: Discern and answer the call of the voice, the Father’s voice. Open ears to hear and hands to hold. Accept the goodness of the sweet pasture Christ has for us and with that eternal life, realize that you and I are caught up in the hands of Christ and our heavenly Father. No one is able to snatch us out of the Father’s hand. 

 

Isn’t that divine!

 

 

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for being our personal doorkeeper. I am grateful for Your own obedience to the Father and the ways You teach. May my ears be inclined to hear…receive… follow Your voice. May it indeed be louder than all the others. Thank You Father, Son and Holy Spirit for holding my hands.

 

 

WHO AM I?

Here’s a picture of a “pen or stall” area in the huge shepherd’s fields outside of Jerusalem. This one is thought to be part of King David’s house. You can see how the sheep would be kept in the rocked off area and the opening would be closed off at night by the shepherd to keep out thieves and robbers intending to lead the sheep astray. I’m Gayle Norris and I was so surprised when I saw this chapter was assigned to me. Verses 27-29 are “hit the nail on the head” verses for me and have been since 2009. I love the assignments we are given.