PROMISE #218 - AUGUST 6

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." ~Matthew 10:30

The entire context of this promise can be found in Matthew 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." 

In Matthew 10 Jesus sends His disciples out into the world to preach the good news of the kingdom: Heal the sick, cast out devils, and freely give that which ye have freely received. Just as He commands them to go, so too does He speak of the opposition they will face to this message. There will even be those that want to kill them for what they stand for. But all the time Jesus is telling them not to be afraid.

Then He tells them sparrows are nothing in the eyes of men, but Father God watches over them carefully. Jesus comforts His disciples by telling them that they are worth more than many sparrows. So if God watches over the birds, He will watch over them, too! A lot of our worry and anxiety is fear-based. Fear comes from feeling that we are alone and that we have to try to manage life on our own.

Jesus encourages us to have courage because we are not alone. We have a heavenly Father who loves us and who has control of our lives. He even took time to number each hair on our heads! What wonderful attention to detail! What a part of our lives! When the God of the universe is for us and is so intimately involved in our lives, we have nothing to fear.

Learning of the Father’s love for us will not necessarily save us from the heartache, pain, and suffering that Jesus told us we would have in the world. But He promises that in the midst of all of our struggles, perfect love will cast out all fear from our hearts (1 John 4:18). Let each of us today go deeper into our Father's love, knowing our worth to Him is far more than many sparrows.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that nothing in my life escapes from Your loving care. If You have counted every hair on my head, then You will watch over me. Help me to believe these promises, especially when I am afraid and anxious, so that I may live free from the crushing burden of care that tries to rob me of my joy.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.