When I’m feeling a bit down with the blues, mopey and gloomy, I need to hear from my Lord Jesus.  Who better to put His arms around me, assuring me that all will be well?  Good to get reassurances from family and friends; equally to give such to those we love who need a shot in the arm (I don’t mean vaccination necessarily!); but no one satisfies like Jesus.  No one and nothing, plain and simple.

Sounds like the words of an old hymn, doesn’t it?  ‘Jesus loves me, this I know…’  ‘There’s something about that name…’  You can hum others, I’m sure, with all circling back to Jesus. He’s the reason for life, here and now, then and there.

Take a gander at John 10.  Just a few verses, which will give you a lift if you’re feeling somewhat like a wet blanket today.  Gives me a boost or two (still not talking about vax!).  More like a hug from above.  Verses 27-30 offer the best medicine even the Mayo Clinic can’t dispense.

Why not hang out around the neighborhood of Jesus’ words?  Listen up.  Chew on them.  Digest them.  Offer a large slice to someone else.  Imagine this– we can hear Jesus.  His voice.  What He has to say.

About what?  Primarily, that we’re His people.  ‘My sheep hear my voice’ (v.27).  To hear Him is to stand close by, within earshot, focusing on Him and those words from His mouth.  That we’re His own–‘ My sheep…’.  Family in the very best sense of the word.

Then Jesus says that He knows us through and through.  No reason to try to impress Him.  Or cover-up.  Or put on a mask (not referring to pandemic again!).  But be who you are, warts and all.  ‘…and I know them…’ (John 10: 27).

We should follow Him.  Be in His company, walking behind our Master and Lord–‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me’ (v. 27).  Better company you’ll never find, in addition to being our leader par excellence.

If all that isn’t enough, He has gifts for us–‘I give them eternal life…’ (v. 28).  Note that His gift is not earned.  Nothing you have to do to get it.  It’s offered freely.  That’s what gifts are.  Without strings.  No fine print to catch us off guard.  No bait and switch or false advertising.

Only to welcome Him into your life.  With a genuine appreciation for all that Jesus has done for you and me.  Why not?  Have nothing to lose except all that’s rotten in life.  ‘I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand’ (John 10: 28-29).

His gift is eternal life which no one can take from us.  When we’re His, we’re His.  Settled.  Period.  Just make sure that you’ve accepted Him into your life and that you’re living for Him.  You know this when you want more and more to be like Him and less and less like…well, you know who.

Is Jesus worth trusting in?  Putting all your hope in?  You’ll discover that there’s nothing like His arms around you no matter what!

Thank you, Jesus, for promises made and kept.  Amen.