Matthew 10 Devotional

Worth More Than Sparrows

“So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”Matthew 10:31 (BSB)

Jesus sends out the twelve with his own authority to heal and to announce that the kingdom has come near (10:1, 10:7). He does not pretend the road will be easy. He is sending them like sheep into a pack of wolves (10:16). They will be dragged before councils, flogged, hated for his name, and betrayed even by family (10:17-22).

Yet three times in a few verses Jesus tells them not to be afraid (10:26, 10:28, 10:31), and every reason rests on the Father. On trial, the Spirit of their Father will give them words (10:19-20). Two sparrows cost only a penny, but none of them falls without the Father's will, and he has counted every hair on their heads (10:29-30). They matter to him far more than sparrows. Jesus' followers are not promised safety from every harm, but they are promised a Father who knows every detail of their lives. Because he holds you that closely, you are free to speak about Jesus openly instead of keeping quiet.

To think about: Where has fear kept you quiet about Jesus, and how does the Father's care for every detail of your life change that?