Have you ever thought you weren’t going to make it? That you would never be the person God wanted you to be? Maybe it isn’t your own fate that has you worried, but that of a spouse or a child. If that’s you, I have an insight God gave me to share. Let’s look at the scriptures.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

John 10:27-30 NLT

Jesus speaks about his ability to shepherd us. We are his sheep and we follow his voice. We are also protected from the enemy, no one can snatch us from Jesus’ hand. Why? Because we are given to Jesus by the Father. We are simultaneously in Jesus’ hand and the Father’s hand because Jesus and his Father are one.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6 NLT

We quote this all the time. But do we believe it? Jesus continues the work of eternal life all the way to completion. Whether that work is in me or in you. He doesn’t leave us unfinished.

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:37-39 NLT

There are three things to consider in this passage: Jesus will never reject us, we are given to Jesus by the Father, and it is God’s will to keep us for eternity.

There is so much comfort in that! So, how does one get to be given to Jesus? This is the concern of those of us with unbelieving children. Can I give my children eternal life? Can I make them into believers?

“For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

John 6:44, 47, 63-65 NLT

Between these scriptures Jesus taught that he is the Bread of Life. That he alone is given that we may have eternal life. This was a very hard concept for the Jewish people and many left him after this teaching. I wonder about their experience living under the Law of Moses. They were given such detailed instructions that the idea of only needing to believe in Jesus may have been both too boundless and too narrow.

Isn’t that how we think as well? We want to do something, to follow rules. We collect scriptures that tell us how to act and forget the ones that explain the source of those actions. Like this one:

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:16, 22-23 NLT

We know this verse and we know it teaches what kind of people we should be, what our lives should reflect. How many of us strive to produce this fruit? How does it work? There is still that drive in me to do something to gain God’s favor. What about this next verse?

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Philippians 2:13 NLT

The truth is we work in tandem with Jesus. We draw close to him, we read our Bible, we stay in fellowship with other believers, and we pray for those around us. It’s the next thing we should do that I struggle with — have confidence in Jesus complete work to cover over all the missteps and rebellious acts that litter the span of our lives.

This is what this message taught me — I worry too much. My trust for my future should land squarely in Jesus hands. He is more than capable. I’ll leave with one more verse.

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

Grace & Peace,

Sandy