Safe in the Arms of Jesus Published week of June 28, 2020
John 10 has brought comfort to many believers over the centuries and rightly so because it gives us a double promise. Many of us may have believed, especially if we trusted Christ as a child, that the Christian life would be comfortable, easy and free from struggle. However, the opposite is true and for that reason Jesus said that in order to follow Him, one must, “Take up their cross daily.” He was telling His followers that they need to be be prepared to die – not just once – but over and over.
The reason the Christian life is not exempt from dangers and difficulties is because there is a real literal Devil who is our enemy and he prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). Not only does the child of God have to deal with Satan, but we also have temptations and attacks. We must deal with our flesh – which constantly battles against God’s Spirit living in us. In Romans 7, Paul gives testimony of these struggles in his own life. He verbalizes the frustration that most of us experience on a daily basis . . . what we want to do, we do not do . . . but we do the things we don’t want to do. He summed up his explanation with, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver (rescue) me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).
I echo the words of Paul, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ! Hallelujah, what a Savior! Think about it friend, no matter what life may throw our way or how many times we may stumble and fall, He has promised that He will never leave or forsake us. Our eternity is not dependent on what we do, but rather on what Christ has done for us. If we are truly His followers, we will not use this truth as license to give up, but as encouragement to persevere for His sake. This grace should motivate us to fight with all our might and to finish well this race He has marked out for us (see Philippians 3:14).
We serve a God who never lets go of us and he never grows weary of us. Yes, our sin does anger our holy God but He has gloriously chosen to accept the sacrifice of His Son on our behalf. Although we still sin, He chooses to see what we are becoming – the image of His Son being formed in us (Romans 8:29). Although it may be difficult to understand such a gift, we must remember that God’s eyes see the end from the beginning. Our lives in these bodies of sin are a raindrop in the ocean of eternity. This is why we must daily fight to live for eternity – aligning our vision with His – so that we are not tricked into forfeiting what is eternal for what is temporary.
Maybe you are struggling today. If so, remember God's grip is firm, steady and constant and you can choose to repent, turn, surrender, and cry out to Him. His love is perfect and complete toward you and His grace and love are always sufficient.
Gracious Father, Thank You for the double security I have in You and in Your son Jesus Christ. I realize you will never let me go and I can rest in your loving care. I acknowledge I must trust You to carry me through any temptation or struggle. You are good all the time and I desire to know and love You more today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.
