Luke 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Jesus had just given warning about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. They held people captive in spiritual fear, as they made the rules about who was and was not worthy of the mercy and blessings of God. Jesus said: "Stop fearing the wrong people! Start fearing God, and God alone." But what Christ was proposing was more than just switching objects of fear. The ONE who is worthy and able to judge is also one who is loving and merciful and forgiving. He personally cares about even the seemingly unimportant and unworthy of His creation, like the sparrow. He looks down, sees their needs, and supplies it. In like manner, he looks down, sees our needs, and provides the forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life we need. Fears calmed. We do not need to live up to anyone's expectations. We just need to humbly and gratefully receive what He offers, and when we do, it makes us invaluable; He will not just throw us away or sell us off. So, let's get our fears in order and fear rightly, casting all our fears on Him, reverencing Him and releasing all fears into His care.
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