My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10,27f
What a wonderful word by Jesus: no one will snatch them out of my hand!" But… what about sin? When we have sinned so greatly that we find it impossible to believe that He will be willing to forgive?There is King David. His people went into battle while he remained home. His beautiful neighbour bathed on her balcony every night, in plain view of everyone. King David was bored, and his fantasies played havoc with him. So he decided to take her for himself. When she became pregnant, he ordered her husband to be killed… that is the kind of sinner we have in King David! For a year God let David believe that everything would somehow turn out ok. But then the prophet Nathan came to him and showed him by comparison how God saw the matter. The man must die! David exclaimed; and Nathan said: That man is you! Then only was David able to see himself for what he really was: the biggest sinner on earth! Everything that was precious to him had been squandered. Only death and ruin awaited him… he didn’t even try to justify or explain himself. He also didn’t attempt to balance out the bad deeds with good deeds. Nor did he try to pacify God through big offerings. For he knew God is incorruptible. But he found mercy and forgiveness! How great God is! Later God referred to David as a man after my own heart. The experience of sin had a profound effect on David. He was only human, and always reliant on God’s mercy.I read a story yesterday. A lamb fell into a swamp and could not get out again. When it was finally freed, it looked more like a wolf or a bear, rather than a lamb. But how do you determine whether it is a wolf or a lamb? You put fresh, juicy grass and only the best lamb pellets on one side; on the other side you put wolf’s food: bait, cadavers, rotting carcasses… obviously the lamb will run toward the grass, while the wolf will turn to the stinking bait. The choice of sustenance shows what we are faced with;- a lamb of God, or an aggressive wolf.What about us? What kind of nourishment do we seek? Do we seek God’s word? Do we seek the company of Jesus, cleansing, sanctification and heavenly joy? Then we remain a lamb in His herd, and the verse atop rings true for us: No one, not even sin, will snatch them out of my hand. Come to Jesus, and allow him to forgive and cleanse you. He’s waiting! And believe in n the good he has done for you. Don’t debate with the enemy, the accuser, destructor and liar. Rather, listen to Jesus.Thank You, Jesus! You have saved me; even though I have strayed, I remain a lamb in your herd. You love me endlessly, beyond comprehension. Thank You for Your love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion! I want to remain true to You!Bible study for today: Revelations 17,1-18