Value

The 365 Journey

Outline Week 41

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Luke 12:6-7

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Fear that God is not concerned about us or cares about our concerns can be disheartening. But here we are reassured that those who are in Christ need not fear those who come against them, because of the value that the Lord places on us.

In our our text we find that we should "Fear not" as we consider our

Value Assigned

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

We are assigned worth by others. Some people declare our value. We cherish these relationships that build us up and affirm our worth, regardless. But often others will strip us of our dignity, as they degrade us and devalue us. Hate filled rhetoric can demoralize us to the point of despair. Yet, we are not what these naysayers say. We don't have to live according to the value that mean spirited people assign to us. We can find our true value in a relationship with the Lord.

Value Assessed

And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Jesus counters the comments of culture. The value of a sparrow in the market was minuscule. They hairs on our head are something we don't daily consider (unless they are falling out). Both sparrows and our hair are deemed insignificant and valueless. But, Jesus had a different assessment of their value.

He so values each individual sparrow that he doesn't forget them. He created them, cares for them, and counts them valuable. Similarly the individual hairs on our head seem insignificant, but He numbers them. He gives what is counted worthless great worth.

His assessment of each of us is that we are of value to Him and His kingdom. As He takes care of the birds, so we need not fear that He will take care of us. The Lord sees us, knows us and cares for us.

Value Assured

Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We don't have to be rattled by the remarks of those who would demean us and devalue us.

Our Lord loves us. We find our worth in Him. We don't have to listen to their rantings. We don't have to be minimized by their comments. What they say doesn't dictate who we are, God does. We may have no value to them, but we have value before Him. Faith in the one who values us, dispels the fear of those who don't. Listen to what the Lord says, not them. Live as one who "need not fear" because "you are of more value".

For Further Study:

https://drbuddyyoung.wixsite.com/well-watered/post/valued