No One Can Snatch Them

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

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING to be held in the Father’s hand. In fact, the Father and the Son provide a two-handed grip that gives ultimate security to our children. If they are sheep in the flock of God, we don’t have to be afraid that something or someone will come along and sever that saving relationship. Though physical death will one day come, our children will never ultimately perish. There are no exceptions to this assurance and no end to it either. “Never” is a very long time, but it is not longer than preserving grace will last. Likewise “no one” is a very broad category, broader than the list of potential predators:

• Illegal drugs or alcohol cannot snatch our children from the Father’s hand.
• An atheist or agnostic philosophy cannot snatch our children from the Father’s hand.
• An unbelieving boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse cannot snatch our children from the Father’s hand.
• Sexual experimentation cannot snatch our children from the Father’s hand.
• A drunk driver or deadly disease cannot snatch our children from the Father’s hand.

Even our children’s own sins and failures do not have the power to snatch them from the saving grip of God. A double-handed force keeps our children safe against all danger. Nothing and no one will ever snatch them out of the hand of Jesus or the hand of his Father. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35, NIV). No one!

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Into your hands I entrust ________. Your sheep listen to your voice. Give ________ ears that are tuned to the sound of your voice. Your sheep follow you. Train ________’s heart to follow after you. I cannot force ________ into your fold or into your hand. But I’m trusting you, as a good shepherd, to take hold of ________.