Thursday after the Fourth Sunday of End Time, 11/30/00

John 10: 27, 28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. --NIV

In the name of the One Who holds His sheep in His hand, amen.

I know a lady who fought off a purse snatcher in New York City. She was eating outside at a restaurant, and a man slowly walked past looking rather strange. He went to the end of the row of tables, turned around and walked back. When he got to her table, he grabbed her purse from the back of her chair and tried to run. But she had her hand on the strap of the purse and wouldn't let go. Her valuables were in that purse, and so she refused to let her purse be taken from her hand. She jerked hard and the thief lost his grip on the purse and ran away.

Yesterday we saw that is is possible for us to fall from faith. We saw that we should always pay attention to the dangers around us. That can be scary, because we know that we are weak, and often don't pay attention to the dangers around us. Today we see that Christ Jesus holds us safely in His hand. He is like the lady with the purse. Jesus holds His church in His hand. He holds it tightly because all His valuables are in that church. We are in that church. In that church we hear our savior's voice which keeps us secure in the True Faith. Thanks be to our loving Savior who keeps us safe in His hand. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for holding onto us tightly so that the devil cannot steal us away from you, amen.

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