Tuesday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 12:2-7
2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
12:2–3 Everything will be revealed and be (made) known by God (cf. 8:17)—a reference to future judgment (Acts 17:31). Because Luke 12:2 is true, v. 3 will take place. Housetops were commonly flat and were used as living space (see Acts 10:9–10).
12:4 Do not fear those who kill the body, as the prophets experienced (11:47) and as Christ’s followers would experience as well (11:49), for physical death cannot affect the believer’s ultimate destiny (cf. Rom. 8:35–39).
12:5 The second fear refers to God (him), who at the final judgment has authority to cast into hell. Repetition (fear him) gives this command additional emphasis.
12:6–7 The observations about sparrows and the hairs of your head show God’s providential care over the smallest details of life. Of more value signals a “lesser to greater” argument: if A (the lesser) is true, then how much more B (the greater) must be true. That is, if God even cares about sparrows, how much greater is his care for every one of his own children, whose value is so much greater (cf. vv. 22–31). Fear not. Fear of God (Luke 12:5) results in not needing to fear anyone or anything else.
12:4 Do not fear those who kill the body, as the prophets experienced (11:47) and as Christ’s followers would experience as well (11:49), for physical death cannot affect the believer’s ultimate destiny (cf. Rom. 8:35–39).
12:5 The second fear refers to God (him), who at the final judgment has authority to cast into hell. Repetition (fear him) gives this command additional emphasis.
12:6–7 The observations about sparrows and the hairs of your head show God’s providential care over the smallest details of life. Of more value signals a “lesser to greater” argument: if A (the lesser) is true, then how much more B (the greater) must be true. That is, if God even cares about sparrows, how much greater is his care for every one of his own children, whose value is so much greater (cf. vv. 22–31). Fear not. Fear of God (Luke 12:5) results in not needing to fear anyone or anything else.
Study Questions:
- The first point Jesus makes to his followers in Luke 12, and the first takeaway from Sunday, is that we should all FEAR God. Jesus is pretty explicit in his language. You might think, "Surely he doesn't mean to actually be afraid of God, right?" Actually, that's exactly what he means. Be afraid! And he gives 2 reasons. First, be afraid because God knows everything you've ever done, or will do, and one day he'll make it known. Second, we should fear him (not man) because he not only has the power to kill you, but also to send you to hell for eternity. WOAH! All man can do is kill your body, but God can condemn you for eternity. Jesus is basically asking, "Who do you fear most?" Do you care more about what HE thinks of you? Or are you more concerned with what people think of you? Question: do you find yourself being too concerned about what other people think of you? How do you know whose opinions you care about most?
- Immediately after telling us to fear God, Jesus makes a counter point, explaining why we SHOULDN'T fear him. This is because that FEAR should lead to COMFORT. We should be comforted by the fact that God knows us so well. Someone who knows you so well will certainly take care of you. He even knows the number of hairs on your head! When you belong to him, he knows your name and he will take care of you. How crazy is it to think that this big, powerful, holy God knows your name and knows even minute details of your life? Do you find any comfort in being known so intimately by the Creator?
Pray:
- That you would FEAR God, not man.
- That you wold be comforted by being known by him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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