Good morning…
When I was a kid, we played in our neighborhood from after school until the dinner bell rang. One of my favorite childhood games was Red Rover.
When we played Red Rover, we would pick two teams from our collection of buddies, we would stretch out in two lines, hand-in-hand, facing one another from about twenty feet away. When we decided on which “enemy” we would take on from the other team, we would call out their name, “Red Rover, Red Rover, let Sandy come over.” (Or Andy or Cathy or Eric or Debbie, whoever was to challenge next our team’s bond).
The chosen person would then run full speed ahead into our line of locked hands. We would tighten our grip, strengthening our line, and try to resist the attack. If our team stood firm, the challenger unable to break through our line, that person would join our team. If the person did break our grip, he or she would take captive a person from our team, making them a member of the opposing team.
Why does my mind return to this childhood game? Because yesterday when I taught Sunday school, we discovered the heart of God’s Red Rover team. As we looked at the Scripture verses shared in yesterday’s blog post, we read: For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 1:2b, NIV). God Almighty picks Jesus first to be on His team, on His right side, holding firmly to His right hand.
With Jesus’ left hand locked in his Father’s grip, the two of them call out my name. “Sue, we pick you.” The Father and Son pair invite me to join their team, and I respond to them with confidence: You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11, AMP). Calling each of us by name, we are personally invited onto God’s Red Rover team.
With Jesus’ right hand extended to us, the hand offering fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore, we respond, “Yes,” as we grip Jesus’ strong, tender hand. Hand-in-hand we connect. Hand-in-hand we have power.
Then life calls out an “enemy” from the opposing team. “Cancer.” “Anxiety.” “Suicide.” “Depression.” “Divorce.” “Anger.” “Fear.” These challengers run at our line, they threaten to break our “God-Jesus-me” bond. With Holy Spirit power coursing through our strong union, we stand firm in the face of every attack. As God’s enemy’s muse fails in defeat, the challenge we feared might break us is subdued, joining God’s team it is transformed into a source of additional strength.
Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture…None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us (Romans 8:35-39, MSG).
Gripping the power of God extended in Jesus’ right hand, our team bond is unbreakable.
…Sue…
