Matthew 10:29-31 - In Gods Hands.
Matthew 10:29-31 (NKJV) Are not two sparrows
sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls
to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30
But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more
value than many sparrows.
INTRODUCTION
The Lord commands us to fear not. But how
many of us do fear, especially when it comes to
the unknown. Fear and faith mix about as well
as oil and water; yet we walk with the Lord,
day after day, with both of these operating in
our lives. The fact that God knows all about
us, even to the number of hairs on each head,
should give us great comfort as we step out into
the unknown future He has laid out before us.
Can you step into tomorrow without fear? Are
you able to leave tomorrow untouched by anxiety
or manipulation? The Lord would have us grow
in faith as we discover what great value He has
given us. As our faith grows, our fear should
diminish. Which of these is controlling your life
today, fear or faith? [In His Time; Walk With
Wisdom re Luk12:7]
COMMENTARY PEARL
I always laugh when I hear people say,
When I get to Heaven, I have a few questions I
want to ask God. In all fairness, there are
questions in life: Why did God allow this tragedy? Why
did He allow that to happen?
But I believe that one second after we
get to Heaven, we wont care about those
questions anymore. We will see God for who He is, and
everything else will come into its proper focus.
Right now, our understanding is limited;
it is very finite. Gods wisdom, however, is
incredibly infinite and great. The Bible says, Now
we see things imperfectly, like puzzling
reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything
with perfect clarity. All that I know now is
partial and incomplete, but then I will know
everything completely, just as God now knows me
completely (1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT).
Heaven will be greater than anything
weve ever imagined. We can take the most
wonderful thing weve ever experienced in life,
multiply it a million times, and well get just a
glimpse of what Heaven will be like. And the good
news is that it will last forever and ever.
With this in mind, lets think about
what were really afraid of. Lets take the
most frightening scenario imaginable. What is it?
The worst scenario isnt dying. The worst
scenario is dying without Jesus. That is the worst
scenario. That is the sum of all fears.
Jesus said, Dont be afraid of those
who want to kill your body; they cannot touch
your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both
soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28 NLT). If
you are trusting in Christ, dont be afraid.
To live is Christ and to die is gain. Our lives
are in Gods hands. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com re vs. 28]
COMMENTARY
The back porch door was only open for a
few seconds, but that was time enough for a
half-grown robin to fly down the hail and into our
laundry room. The poor bird frantically circled the
room, wings beating hard. I knew it was scared,
but what to do? I tried capturing it in a large
towel, but couldn't get close. Trapping it in the
corner with my broom didn't work, either.
My husband, Don, squeezed through the
door. "Stop trying to catch it!" he said. "When
the bird tires it will land on a shelf and I'll
get it." A couple of minutes later, that's what
happened. Don picked the robin up, carried it outside,
and watched it fly to the nearest Bradford pear
tree.
I hate to admit it, but I'm a lot like
that bird. My initial reaction to unsettling news
or a troubling circumstance is panic. I rush
around and try to fix things that don't need fixing
or aren't my business. Often my hasty
"solutions" to problems often don't even make sense,
like the time my granddaughter Olivia was driving
alone and had a flat tire ninety miles away. My
plan was to go pick her up, but Don said, "Why
not call a garage to fix the tire?" I did, and
Olivia was back on the road in forty-five minutes.
These days I'm trying to remember that
robin when I receive bad news or encounter
stressful situations. With God's help, I'm learning to
take a deep breath, stay calm, wait awhile, and
trust that He will provide appropriate help in
every situation.
Lord, You have told us to learn from the
birds of the air (Matthew 6:26). Let it be so in
my life. Amen. Penney Schwab [Walking in Grace
2021 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
If we will but listen, Gods created
works will teach us precious lessons of obedience
and trust. From the stars that in their
trackless courses through space follow from age to age
their appointed path, down to the minutest atom,
the things of nature obey the Creators will.
And God cares for everything and sustains
everything that He has created. He who upholds the
unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same
time cares for the wants of the little brown
sparrow that sings its humble song without fear.
When men go forth to their daily toil, as when
they engage in prayer; when they lie down at
night, and when they rise in the morning; when the
rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor
man gathers his children about the scanty board,
each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father.
No tears are shed that God does not notice.
There is no smile that He does not mark.
If we would but fully believe this, all
undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives
would not be so filled with disappointment as now;
for everything, whether great or small, would be
left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by
the multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed by
their weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul
to which many have long been strangers.
As your senses delight in the attractive
loveliness of the earth, think of the world that is to
come, that shall never know the blight of sin and
death; where the face of nature will no more wear
the shadow of the curse. Let your imagination
picture the home of the saved, and remember that it
will be more glorious than your brightest
imagination can portray. In the varied gifts of God in
nature we see but the faintest gleaming of His
glory. It is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that
love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9.
The poet and the naturalist have many
things to say about nature, but it is the Christian
who enjoys the beauty of the earth with the
highest appreciation, because he recognizes his
Fathers handiwork and perceives His love in flower
and shrub and tree. No one can fully appreciate
the significance of hill and vale, river and
sea, who does not look upon them as an expression
of Gods love to man.
God speaks to us through His providential
workings and through the influence of His Spirit upon
the heart. In our circumstances and
surroundings, in the changes daily taking place around us,
we may find precious lessons if our hearts are
but open to discern them. The psalmist, tracing
the work of Gods providence, says, The
earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even
they shall understand the loving-kindness of the
Lord. Psalm 33:5; 107:43. SC85-87
CLOSING THOUGHT
Whatever is important to you, talk to God
about it.
Recently I had some news to tell my kids
that I knew would upset them. So I called a
little family meeting and said, "Kids, here's the
deal," and then shared the hard stuff. I feared my
daughters would take the news especially hard. "I know
it's tough, so let's talk about this."
"Oh, we're fine, Dad," they said. "Thanks
for telling us."
After more assurances from them, I went
to work but couldn't stop worrying about them.
When I came home, I found Amy comforting one of
our daughters, who had obviously been crying all
day.
"Why didn't you talk to your dad about
this?" Amy asked her.
My little girl, almost a grown woman,
said, "Dad's got so much going on with work and
church and stuff. I just didn't want to bother him
with this. It's just a little thing."
When I heard this, my heart broke. I went
to her and said, "Sweetheart, you need to
understand that if there's something that matters to
you, it matters to me. Even if it seems small, if
it matters to you at all, I promise you, it
matters to me."
Today you must remember this. If it's
important to you, because you are God's child, it's
important to him. Don't hold back - tell him.
Lord, thank you for letting me share my
heart, knowing that no problem is too small, no
concern of mine too trivial. I'm so glad you care
about the details of my day. [Daily Power by Craig
Groeschel]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
I am with you in all that you do, even in
the most menial task. I am always aware of you,
concerned with every detail of your life. Nothing
escapes My notice - not even the number of hairs on
your head. However, your awareness of My Presence
falters and flickers; as a result, your life
experience feels fragmented. When your focus is broad
enough to include Me in your thoughts, you feel
safe and complete. When your perception narrows
so that problems or details fill your
consciousness, you feel empty and incomplete.
Learn to look steadily at Me in all your
moments and all your circumstances. Though the world
is unstable and in flux, you can experience
continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of My
Presence. Fix your gaze on what is unseen, even as the
visible world parades before your eyes. (Mat.
10:29-31; Heb. 11:27; 2Co. 4:18) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Matthew 6:34 - Plan for Tomorrow but Live
for Today.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201123-1013.html
2 Timothy 1:7 - Holy Spirit Power, Love and
Self-Control.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210211-0931.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
