October 28 | John 6:37-40
REFLECTION
The Father's Will
By Beth Voltmann
“Cup your hands and catch every bit of sand that I pour into them.” Imagine a parent saying this to his child on the beach. In essence, God said this very thing to Jesus when He sent His only Son to rescue a world that needed saving. Can you imagine such an assignment? Jesus willingly responded, “Thy will be done.”
“All those the Father gives me will come to me,
And whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will
but to do the will of him who sent me.”
(John 6:37-38)
God made a promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17) and those who have faith are part of Abraham’s family. (Galatians 3:7) Figuratively, believers are the sand that the Father has poured into the hands of Jesus.
“And this is the will of him who sent me,
that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,
but raise them up at the last day.”
(John 6:39)
Not one grain given will drop through Christ’s nail-scarred hands. Yet, this raises a question. Is it the Father’s will that some should perish in their sin? Don’t allow misunderstanding to unsettle your faith. Instead, rest in the knowledge that God is good...not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) His ways are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:9) The Father desires that we would all respond to His call and choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Listen as Jesus shares the heart and will of His Father for the third time:
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who
looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life,
and I will raise them up at the last day.”
(John 6:40)
Will you trust your life to the Father’s will?
Will you respond with an open heart?
Will you pray for those who have not yet believed?
Look to the Savior upon the cross.
His nail-scarred hands are open and ready to receive all who come.
Our lives are held safely in His hands.
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;
no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:28-30)
PRAYER
Father, I know that your will is perfect. I trust in your goodness. Thank you for sending Your Son into the world to bear our sin, grant forgiveness, gather hearts and offer eternal life. I pray for those who have not yet looked to Christ and believed. Draw them by Your Holy Spirit and pour them into the everlasting hands of Jesus.
Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BETH VOLTMANN
After moving to Ohio in 1997 with my husband and four children, I developed a hunger for God’s Word through adult teaching and women’s Bible study at UALC. My passion is to help others understand Scripture so that they may grow in their desire for more of God and experience the new life offered to us through Christ Jesus.
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