| Being a goalkeeper in soccer, or football, is a most | | | | from various spiritual threats and dangers. |
| crucial role. Normally, before the goalkeeper is beaten | | | | In Deuteronomy, we read of God's arms being |
| every other player has been beaten, and yet | | | | underneath to support and uphold, and that is so |
| goalkeepers have been accused of doing the most | | | | reassuring when times are tough and when opposition |
| silly things at times. | | | | and persecution are real. |
| Having played in goal, it was a role I used to enjoy, but I | | | | For the believer in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, |
| much preferred playing in what used to be called the | | | | disciples can rely upon God to keep them from falling |
| half back line. My position was right half when you | | | | away, and there is that supernatural undergirding which |
| were up with the forwards and involved with the | | | | enables us to remain faithful and obedient even in |
| forwards and back defending when necessary. It was | | | | testing situations and circumstances, and we all face |
| one of these positions whereby you were involved in | | | | these, more often than we had expected. It has been |
| the match almost the entire time. | | | | so from the very beginning and we read of that in the |
| Quite recently, the Manchester United goalkeeper kept | | | | book of Acts, and of course, supremely in the life of |
| the ball from entering his net for 1,302 minutes, and we | | | | Jesus. |
| are told it is a world record. For almost fifteen | | | | God can bring into His presence one day without a |
| matches, no one was able to score even one goal | | | | single fault, and we learn all about that in the short New |
| against him. Was that because he was playing with an | | | | Testament letter of Jude. These words are so highly |
| superb defence or was it as a result of his excellent | | | | encouraging. |
| goalkeeping? Probably it was a combination of the | | | | While we live out our lives down here, there are days |
| two. | | | | we may trip and stumble and tumble, but we will never |
| The commentators reported that he was a | | | | fall so far that God cannot pick us up and set us on |
| goalkeeper with safe hands. | | | | our feet again. |
| With the World Cup being played across South Africa | | | | His safe hands will never fail and they will never |
| will we see safe hands from the various goalkeepers? | | | | become weak or weary. |
| When David wrote some of his Psalms, he would | | | | Our salvation is secure when we allow God to do the |
| speak of and refer to God's hands. He spoke of God's | | | | holding. We walk and serve, but we ask Him and allow |
| hand protecting him. Many have discovered the truth | | | | Him and permit Him to lead and guide and direct. What |
| of this down through the years. The hand of Almighty | | | | an exciting way to live! |
| God can keep us safe and secure and protect us | | | | |