“No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28 NIV)
“Non one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29 NIV)
This morning’s reading in Live Dead Joy points out how we are doubly held: by the Father with one hand and by the Son with the other. I can’t help but think back to my children as little people learning to walk; clutching Rob’s hand with one chubby fist and mine with the other. There is such safety in hanging tightly to loving folks.
Our kids held on as they learned to navigate the world with their own two feet. They were each well-guarded but emboldened by our steady grasp. Doesn’t this image strengthen your inner man? A loving Father and a watchful big Brother painstakingly teaching us to walk in the Spirit.
“So I say walk in the Spirt and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 NIV)
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25 NIV)
I, for one, am glad to be doubly held by God and led by the Spirit. A loving, disciplining family creates a firm foundation for developing maturity. We can trust His handholds and His Spirit’s good leading.
For some reason, today’s scripture makes me think of Jesus’s last words to Peter:
“When you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, ‘Follow Me!” (John 21:18-19 NIV)
Immature christians are impulsive and insubordinate. They throw off the hands of God to go their own way. Maturing Christians are learning to surrender and submit to the handholding of the Father and the leading of the Spirit. Admittedly, sometimes the Godhead takes us to hard places: places where we learn to die to self. But note the text: the martyrdom of our flesh is always for His glory!
If we could talk with Peter today, I’m sure he has no regrets about the kind of death he suffered for the sake of Christ. I’d imagine his only misgivings are centered around how long it took him to live and die obedient to his King.
Lord, thank You for holding us by both the right and left hands. You uphold us as we learn to walk rightly by Your Spirit. Your patience and presence is ceaseless. May we cooperate with joyful obedience, ready to submit our flesh to Your perfect leading. Let us die to our desires and come alive to Your will. Amen.