I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! [1]
Eternal life that never ends
John 10:22-30 NRSV
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So, the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
Warren Wiersbe
No one has a right to claim to be one of Christ’s sheep if he or she lives in willful, persistent, open disobedience, and refuses to do something about it. Just as there are false shepherds, so there are goats who try to pass for sheep. One day Christ will say to them, “I never knew you.” We have eternal life, not just life “for as long as we don’t sin.” We are in Christ’s care and the Father’s hand, a double assurance of eternal preservation for His sheep. We are the Father’s gift to the Son, and the Father will not take back a gift. Sheep are a beautiful illustration of Christians. Sheep are clean animals, and Christians have been cleansed from their sin. Sheep flock together, and so do true believers. Sheep are harmless, and Christians should be blameless and harmless. Sheep are given to wandering—and so are we! Sheep need a shepherd for protection, guidance, and food; and we need Christ for spiritual protection, daily guidance, and spiritual food. Sheep are useful and productive; so are true Christians. Finally, sheep were used for sacrifices; and Christians are willing to yield themselves for Christ as “living sacrifices”[2]
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
The impossibility of true believers being lost, in the midst of all the temptations which they may encounter, does not consist in their fidelity and decision, but is founded upon the power of God. Here the doctrine of predestination is presented in its sublime and sacred aspect; there is a predestination of the holy, which is taught from one end of the Scriptures to the other; not, indeed, of such a nature that an “irresistible grace” compels the opposing will of man (of course not), but so that that will of man which receives and loves the commands of God is produced only by God’s grace. [3]
Psalm 37:25-26 ESV
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
Matthew Henry
The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want anything good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell forever; that will be their everlasting habitation.[4]
“To Be a Christian” Anglican Catechism[5]
Question #165
Why do we call God “Father”?
We call God “Father” because Jesus teaches his disciples that we are God’s children and should call God “our Father.”
Question #166
Who are God’s children?
All who come to God through faith and Baptism in Christ are adopted as children of God the Father.
Question #167
Why does Jesus teach us to pray “our” Father?
Jesus teaches us always to understand ourselves not only as individuals but as members of God’s family of believers, and to pray accordingly.
Question #168
How is God like earthly fathers?
Like all loving and sincere earthly fathers, God loves us in our weakness, provides for our needs, teaches us in our ignorance, and corrects us when we go astray.
Question #169
How is God unlike earthly fathers?
Unlike our natural fathers, our heavenly Father loves us perfectly, is almighty in his care, makes no errors in judgment, and disciplines us only for our good.
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[6]
My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me
The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. [7]
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Ps 34:1–3.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 237
[3] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 147.
[4] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Ps 37:21.
[5] TO BE A CHRISTIAN: AN ANGLICAN CATECHISM Copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America
[6] Collect for Guidance, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Ps 34:22.
