Who Do You Fear?

And I say to you, My friends, don't fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you who to fear: Fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear!

Aren't five pennies sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows! Luke 12:4-7

There is much violence in our world. We see the rise of family violence and the killing of women and children or men taking their own lives and that of their children, we see evil men slaughtering thousands all in the name of their god and the lust for blood is not abated. In America the gun lobby is preventing the disarmament of its population believing it is the right of the people to bear arms. Yet bent and twisted young men go into schools and kill all those who have hurt them. In Australia we do not bear arms, yet feel very safe.

If we live in front of the TV we can become fearful and disillusioned. Yet Jesus is telling the crowds not to fear. Israel, in His day, was inhabited by the Romans. Perhaps the people were focussed on death and destruction. 

Jesus is telling us here, yes you might be killed, but eternity is a long time, where you spend it is more important than now. Make sure you are ready for eternity.

Jesus is also telling us that we are valuable to the Father, more valuable than the sparrows, yet He notices them. In our country sparrows are pests, unlike native birds, but they are important to God. We are all important to Him, He does not see as we see, it is Him who wants relationship with us. Amen!