St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 30-31, Heavenly Value.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 7.  

 Christ has made a comparison with the birds of the air.  He has indicated that two sparrows are sold for a farthing, a thing of little value.  Yet even they are watched over by our heavenly Father.  Not one falls to the ground without the leave of the father.  Christ has told his disciples in previous passages that the salt has no value if it looses its strength.  It is of no good except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  And yet this does not happen without the leave of the father.  The decision is upon the individual.  The choice is theirs.  And the father will abide by their decision.  Yet he will wait until the last minute until the last hope of turnaround before leaving the person to their decision to live without him.  When we do not accept the message of the kingdom of heaven we turn our backs to Christ and become things of little value.  And yet he does not give up on us.  He continues to wait and to expect a turnaround in our decision to accept him.

Christ comes now and tells his disciples that even though two sparrows are of little value, God does not allow them to fall without his knowledge.  He cares about the smallest thing of value and he cares about the greatest thing of value.  And man is of great value to him.  Christ tells us that, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered."  This is how important the souls of men are to God.  He knows all about us, even down to the individual hair follicles on our heads.  He is intimately involved with everything about us.  And nothing happens to us without his knowledge.  Christ says because,  "You are of more value than many sparrows."   Our heavenly value is greater than many sparrows.  God loves us more.  He protects us more.  He provides for us more.  Christ is telling this to his disciples because he wants them to know their heavenly value.  He wants them to know that their God will protect them, provide for them, and keep them in his love.  Though they do battle with the evil one and come against his minions, God will be the ultimate protector.  Their job is to carry that message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and tell them about the goodness of the Lord.  

Because of that protection Christ tells them again not to be afraid.  They are things of great value to the Lord.  God will not allow any harm to come to them as they travel throughout the towns and villages carrying the message to the people.  So, he tells them again, "Therefore do not be afraid."   They will not be lost to the torments of hell.  Do not be afraid, for they will not be tortured by Satan.  Do not be afraid for they are more valuable than many sparrows.  But to those who are released by God, they have no value.  To those who will not accept the message of the kingdom, they will have no value.  To those who do not receive the disciples, it will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for them that do not receive the message of the kingdom.

Christ values us.  Christ loves us and so does God our Father.  We will not fall, unless it is our decision.  We will not be overcome by the tricks and traps of the devil, unless we decide not to accept the love that God offers us.  The decision is ours to make.  We are more valuable in God's eyes.  He knows even the individual hairs on our heads.  The message is clear.  Heed the calling of Christ and repent.  Turn away from the worship of pagan gods and turn to the one true God in heaven.  Do not be afraid for he loves you very much and will protect you.  Do not be afraid for he will provide for you.  Do  not be afraid for he will love you.  And do not be afraid because he will keep you in his hands and out of the hands of the evil one.  For Christ has told us that the very hairs of our heads are numbered so do not be afraid.  We are worth many sparrows so do not be afraid.  Are you a disciple of Christ or a disciple of the world?  

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 29, Heavenly Value.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 6.  

Now, in Christ's description of hell, he has given his disciples a picture of the torment that awaits those who do not heed the message of the kingdom.  Within the minds of the disciples lurks the picture of the many souls that will not see the kingdom.  There are many that they have encountered that have turned away from the message.  There are many who have not accepted the laws but turned to the worship of pagans.  There are many who live by the passions of their hearts and who disregard the calling to repentance.  So the disciples see how Satan is winning the souls of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christ tells them, by way of example, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?"   Are not two birds sold for a very small value?  In just the same manner, are not two small things sold for a very small value?  Are not two, lost body and lost soul, sold for a value that is very small, a value that is of no value?  Christ wants his disciples to know that those who do not accept the message have little value.  Those who are lost are like the sale of two sparrows for a very little value.  There is no value.  There is no loss.  He continues by saying, "And yet, not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave." 

So even though Satan is capturing the souls of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, those souls are the ones who have not accepted the message sent from the father.   God our father does not allow souls to go willingly into hell.  He knows all of those that do.  He makes every effort to save those lost souls.  He provides opportunities for them to repent.  He provides ways for them to hear the message.  He provides a means for them to return to the God of their forefathers.  God knows all and any lost soul is only lost by his leave and by the choice of the individual.  For Christ has told his disciples that the Father will protect them.  He has told them that the Spirit of the Father will come to them.  He has given them training to protect themselves from the tricks and traps of the devil.  So they are prepared and they will prepare others who will listen and heed the message of the kingdom of heaven.

Christ has said to his disciples that they are the salt of the earth.  But what if the salt looses its strength.  Of what good is it except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  He has also shown that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field neither toil nor sweat.  Yet the heavenly father provides for them just as he will provide for them.  Even for those who do not accept the message, God waits patiently, even up to the last minute, for the veil of deception to be thrown off and the eyes opened and they repent.   For our God is a God of mercy and a God of patience and a God of love.  And yet not one sparrow falls to the ground except by his leave.  Like the disciples, are you of great value to your heavenly father?  Is your body and soul compared to two sparrows who are sold for a farthing, a very small value?  Can you hear the message?  Do you care?  Christ is calling you to repentance that he may love you.  Will you come?

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 28b, Heavenly Protection not Fear.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 5.  

Christ has told his disciples not to be afraid in several ways.  He does not want them to have fear.  He does not want them to open the door to fear and thereby allow the minnions of the evil one to enter into their hearts and minds to destroy their defenses.  They are the warriors.  They are the victors.  They are the conquerers.  The Spirit of the Father is with them and will arm them with words of wisdom.  Have confidence in heavenly protection.  So Christ has given them the pep rally and boosted their spirits in preparation for battle.

He has told them not to fear those that can destroy the body.   Though they may cause pain in the physical realm, there is no harm in the spiritual realm.  The soul will remain and will rejoice in the presence of the Lord.  Christ tells them however, to be afraid of Satan.  He says, be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  So he wants us to know that there is destruction in hell.  He wants us to know that there is a physical place called hell where Satan reigns.  And in this place Satan can destroy the body and the soul.  He can cause pain.  He can cause suffering.  He can cause disease.  He can cause all manner of physical and spiritual destruction.  This is what we should fear.  We should fear going to hell.  We should fear being in a place where there is no hope.  We should fear being in a place where we will live in eternity in pain and suffering. 

So Christ is instructing his disciples about this place called hell and what will happen in this place.  This is not the place where his disciples will go.  But he gives them a picture of this place so that they will know where those who do not accept the message, will go.  Christ wants his disciples to understand the immense pain and suffering that the unbeliever will undergo when they leave the physical realm.  He wants them to have complete knowledge so that they can speak to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and convey to them the choice that they will make.  For they are the first to hear the message of the kingdom of heaven.  They are the first to see the disciples of Christ.  They are the first to have the opportunity to repent and turn back to the Lord.  After these, then the rest of the Gentiles will hear the message of the kingdom of heaven.

So we have our warning.  Just as Christ told his disciples back then, he is telling us today.  Fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell.  Fear the place called hell, where one will live in eternal damnation.  Fear Satan. 

Will you hear the message?  Can you understand the meaning of the message or are you deaf to it?   The evil one will use all his tricks and traps to prevent you from hearing it.  He will attempt in every way to keep you from the kingdom of heaven so that he can get you in hell to destroy what God has created.  Are you afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell?  You should be!!