Luke 12:1–12

Be Still: Father help me as I read your Word. By your Spirit, I want to become more like Jesus today. Amen.

 Read: Luke 12:1–12

 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (v6)

Encounter: As we enter chapter 12 of Luke and get closer to the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the mood of the Gospel narrative takes something of a shift. In his commentary Luke For Everyone, NT Wright suggests that Luke is 'allowing us to see how, with Jesus on the long road to Jerusalem, tension is building up, opposition is becoming stronger, and anyone who wants to follow Jesus is going to have to become focused, totally loyal, ready for anything.' 

Our passages this week will strike quite a serious tone and they will remind us that following Jesus will require a whole-hearted commitment to him. 

Jesus starts us off here with a series of warnings, coming hand in hand with encouragements to not be afraid. The example of the sparrow appears in the Gospels to speak of God’s sovereignty and care. Its use is significant because the original hearers would have had in mind the poorest people buying a few cheap sparrows to offer at the Temple - and there were loads of the under-valued birds around (think pigeons in Trafalgar Square!) 

God doesn’t forget even one of those little sparrows. He’s sovereign and he cares. Not only that, but every one of your hairs is numbered by God! Be assured too, that if you’re at all nervous about verse 10 and blaspheming ‘against the Holy Spirit’, you can be confident that you haven’t. 

 Apply: ‘Don’t be afraid’ is Jesus’ invitation and encouragement. In the UK we don’t worry about being persecuted or killed for holding to the Gospel of Jesus. Pray for those around the world that do. And let the Heavenly Father remind you, that you are not forgotten, you can trust him, his eyes are on you and the Father knows what you have on today.

 Devote: Father, thank you that you love me more than many sparrows. Thank you that you died for me, you loved me that much. I trust my life today, into your sovereign care.