You are valuable to God
"A re 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."— Luke 12:6–7 There are some words of Jesus that are comforting because they are gentle. There are others that are comforting because they remind us of who God is. And then there are words like these, words that speak directly into our fears. Jesus was speaking to His disciples at a time when following Him would not necessarily be easy or safe. He was preparing them for opposition, rejection and persecution. Earlier in the passage, Jesus warns them: "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." (Luke 12:1) He then tells them that they should not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot do anything more. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more." (Luke 12:4) Instead: "Fear him who, after your b...