Tight Grip

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 

Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:22-30)

How long must we keep our families and friends in suspense?  Do our works testify to others that we follow Christ, but not as sheep, but as those who make important decisions about how we must live?  Are we Christ-like in our attempts to be right and just? 

Do we rest in our Father’s hand?  We might not feel too comfortable in that hand because with that resting place comes challenges.  It’s not a soft spot because to be right and just puts us in opposition to many who are wrong and unjust.  There is conflict we might want to avoid, but we cannot because no one can take us out of our Father’s hand.  It’s a tight grip.

Deacon David Pierce