Psalm 37:23-24 “23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
It is truly a great blessing to know that when we fall God does not throw us away.
John 10:27-29 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
To me, this is the greatest of all the scriptures pertaining to God’s hand. In these scriptures we find the great comfort in knowing that when we are saved we are counted as God’s sheep and he is our Shepherd. The entire 10th chapter of John is concerning Jesus being the Good Shepherd. We know his voice and follow him. He gives us eternal life. It is a great blessing knowing that no one can pluck us out of his hands.
John 10:7-11, 14-15, 18 “7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
Truly the adversaries of a Christian are many in the day in which we live. But Jesus has never changed. He is still the Good Shepherd. His sheep still know his voice. We still have eternal life because no one can pluck us out of his hand.
This is a source of comfort and great blessing to us today. Let us conclude from these scriptures, and there are many others in the Bible to choose from, that God’s hand is mighty, when we are in God’s hand we are safe, and when God’s hand is upon us for good then evil can not destroy us.
In contrast, there are times when God’s hand is upon man for chastisement. Next week I’ll begin to explore that aspect of God’s hand.
Ricky Wilborn
Fort Payne, AL
