Return to Your Rest, O My Soul…

 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”—John 10:23-30

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.—Colossians 3:3

As I read this passage from John 10 this morning it was as if God was enveloping me with His protection and care by throwing one of those “newfangled” weighted comfort blankets over me.   Beloved, In Him, we are secure!  In Him we live and move and have our being. We, as true believers, walk through this life under His covering blanket of security.  Our God is in sovereign control...no one can snatch us from His hand.

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”—Luke 6:37-40

As a true child of God, Jesus holds one of my hands and God, my Father, the other. They are united in purpose and in action. (I and My Father are one.”) My safety and security is their priority. They have hedged me behind and before and have laid their hand upon me. 

To get to me, you have to go through God first. He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for His flock. I am His lamb…I BELONG to Him!  I hear his voice and I follow Him.  He gives me eternal life and promises that I will never perish and neither shall anyone snatch me out of His hand. The LORD  is MY Shepherd. My security rests with Him.  In Him, I have everything I need both in this age and in the age to come. 

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.—Psalm 116:7

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.—Psalm 139:7-10

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:31-39