Dave's Diary

Prayer

Briefly prepare your heart in silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your sense of anticipation that God is about to speak to you through His Word. Then, before you read, I invite you to pray this simple prayer based on Psalm 27:1,

Lord, You are my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
You are the stronghold of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?
Please speak to me by Your Word of Truth today.
Amen.

Reading

John 10:22-30

In this extensive Shepherd-sheep metaphor, we who follow Jesus Christ as Lord are the sheep in His flock. In John 10:28, Jesus speaks the most wondrous words about us:

²⁸ “I give ________ (insert your name here) eternal life, and (he/she) shall never perish; no one will snatch (him/her) out of My hand.“

Please take a minute to contemplate these magnificent words and to allow them simply to wash over you.

Your life is held forever in the hand of Jesus, the Life-Giver, the Eternal Son of God, the King of God’s Eternal Kingdom, the Lover of your soul. Even when your body dies, you will not perish! As you contemplate this glorious truth, how does it make you feel?

And then, as if that was not glorious enough, Jesus continues:

²⁹ “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

What greater security could we ever need?

Although there is no command in today’s verses, may they give you deep comfort and security. And perhaps the challenge in them for us all is to look around at the fellow believers in our family, our small group, or at Sunday services, and ask the Holy Spirit to remind us that these people are actually part of our eternal Family. They are not just passing acquaintances, and so we had better start relating to them on that understanding and with that heart-attitude.

How might Jesus be calling you to adjust your attitude or approach to your fellow believers in light of this truth?

Contemplation

Please take time to ponder what Jesus has commanded us. Turn these declarations over and over in your mind. Keep them in mind throughout the day and live in step with Your King, Jesus.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ:

• I am held forever in the hand of Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, the King of God’s Eternal Kingdom, the Lover of my soul.
• I am held forever in my Heavenly Father’s hand.
• I am safe!

Holy Spirit, please help me to see my fellow believers with new eyes – as my eternal Family – and help me to treat them accordingly. Amen.