Daily Reflections on Jn. 10:24-30 (Secure in the Hand of God)

Ever play the game where one person holds a pebble or marble or M&M in their open palm while the other person tries to snatch before the first person closes their hand? It's a fun game to play, especially if the reward of the snatch is a chocolate morsel. Grasping the prize depends on the skill and dexterity of the players. A quick snatcher has a better than fifty fifty chance of winning the contest. Which means an artful protector can retain the item a greater percentage of the time.

With the game, the protector tempts the snatcher by placing the hand open with palm up. It gives the snatcher an opportunity to steal the item. In other words, the protector places the prize at risk in almost a taunting manor.

In John 10, Jesus paints the picture of God holding his sheep, his people, the saved in His hand. But instead of holding them out so that they could be snatched by Satan or someone or something else, God clenches us firm in His mighty hand. Nothing or no one can rip them from His grip.

That's reassuring to know that God doesn't play games with us or put us at risk. He's not in some cosmic game of snatch with the devil. God isn't fickle. He is steadfast. What's under His protection or in His possession can't be torn away, stolen away, pulled away, maneuvered away or even gambled away.

Jesus said whoever places their life into His hands has eternal life. Putting your life into His hands is a lot more secure than taking your life into your own hands or placing them into someone else's hands. In this day of great uncertainty, the securest place you could be is in the hands of God. Sorry Allstate, you may have good hands, but I'd rather be in God's.

God, I love being in your hand instead of my own or the governments or my financial adviser or anyone else's. I know I have the tendency to want to peel back your fingers and experience life without you in my life. But you know, Lord, it doesn't take me long to come back into the security of your palm. It's so reassuring to know that you don't put my life at risk.