GIVE ME YOUR HAND

Maurice Montgomery

When my children were very young"' before they were able to walk or stand alone, sometimes I would go to them when they were sitting on the floor take their little hands in mine, lift them to their feet and, help them walk. They liked it so much that after only a few such walks I could get to them nearly anytime where they were sitting, and say, "Give me your hands," and they would eagerly put their little hands in mine and off we would go.

These little walks were always full of wobbles and stumbles on their part, and they would grip my fingers very tightly; however, it was never their grip on me that enabled them to stand and walk, but my grip on them. I would not let them fall.

I see in this little story an illustration of that relationship between the heavenly Father and His believing children (Hosea 11:3). They, by His enabling grace, have laid hold of Christ and eternal life; but they do not trust their grip, their strength, their faith, as their security. They are "kept by the power of God through faith," quite true; but they are "kept by the power of God through faith" (I Peter 1:5). It is through faith, their own personal faith, that sinners take hold of the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved; but without the continual power of God their faith would disappear like a morning mist before the rising sun.

The believer's life in this world is so plagued with the staggers, stumbles and limps of unbelief that he can derive no confidence and assurance from looking to his own faith. His only faith and confidence that his faith and confidence will continue is in the gracious promise, power and faithfulness of God (John 17:2,15,24; Luke 22:31; I Peter 1:5; Jude 24; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28-39). The Lord teaches all His people that it is not their hand-hold, (faith) on Christ that gives them security, but the fact that they are in His mighty, loving hand (John 10:28,29). He gives them that special faith which trusts and rests in Christ alone.