Tag: Matthew 10:28-33
Sparrows and hairs!
Scripture reading for January 14: Matthew 10
“”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father Who is in heaven, but anyone who denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven.”” Matthew 10:28-33
There are things in life that we think are unimportant and would be a waste of God’s time and attention. Jesus brought up two of these in this discussion about what is really of value. Jesus warned His disciples not to fear those who could kill them physically but had no power over their eternal souls. He brought their attention to the common sparrow of His time. This was one of the cheaper meats on the market of Jesus’ day. Two sparrows were sold for a ‘penny,’ a very small price. Yet Jesus said that His Father would notice each fallen sparrow! Personally, Jesus pointed to the hairs on our head being numbered by our Father in heaven! Jesus’ point was that we are of greater worth than sparrows or hairs!
Jesus was encouraging His disciples to stand up and testify about Him before men. Their call was to testify to the lost world of His amazing love for mankind and His personal knowledge of each person’s life and destiny. As they obeyed their calling to affirm Jesus before men, Jesus, in turn, would also affirm them before the Father in heaven. This is not righteousness by works, however. It is by faith in Jesus that we live and our testimony of Him flows by love through relationship.
Do you struggle to give public testimony of your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you fear what others might think of you and less about what God might think about you living in fear? What do you think Jesus will say about you before the Father? Take time to talk to Jesus about your concerns.
Prayer: Thank You for Your amazing care for creation revealed in the sparrows and hairs of our head. Forgive me for shrinking back in fear before those who might not receive testimony of Your love for them in Jesus. Fill me with such love and power by Your Spirit that I testify before all men. Amen.
‘Fear’ and ‘Fear not’!
Scripture reading for July 12th: Matthew 10
Key Scriptures: Matthew 10:28-33 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father Who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven.”
There is a cost associated with following Jesus Christ. As Jesus was sending out the Twelve apostles on a mission, He carefully explained that they would be going out as lambs among wolves (10:16) and they would suffer persecution and hatred because of His Name. He told them to have no fear of those persecuting them but rather to have a reverent fear of God Himself, Who alone could destroy soul and body in hell. Jesus reminded them that God even numbers the hairs on our heads so He knows all things and holds His people closely. As followers of Jesus, His disciples must never be ashamed and freely confess Him before men, even our own family. Those that shrink back and deny Jesus will find that Jesus will deny them before His Father. Thus we have “fear not” men who hate and misuse you but “fear” Him before Whom we must give an account.
Matthew 10:34 “”Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.””
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I hold You in awe and respect for Who You are. Thank You for this clear instruction on the cost of following Jesus, Your Son. Empower me today to boldly and without fear declare my faith with my own household and the harvest field You send me to.
Daniel 12:2-3 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt. And those that are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”