YOU COUNT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31
Are 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
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever questioned your worth in this world?
If so, you’re not alone for we seem to live in a time when everyone wants to size themselves up against something.
We examine the way other people look and question whether we’re as attractive, conscious about nearly every aspect of our physical appearance. The modern day versions of body shaming doesn’t help matters and at times, that shaming can be self imposed. Indeed, sometimes the mirror can be our worst enemy and yet we can’t help but look. Ditto for the scale.
Another place where we see if we size up with others regards the way we dress. We seem to always feel pressured to dress in accordance with the latest style so we can be considered en vogue and it seems some people can’t be satisfied unless they are in alignment with the latest fashion trends.
One last example and it has to do with how accomplished we are, especially in regard to money and prestige. The world seems to measure success by the amount of money someone has and the accumulation of possessions to compliment wealth. We gauge ourselves by the kind of job we hold or the home we live in or the car we drive. And determined to “keep up with the Joneses”, it seems like people never really reach a comfort level when it comes to the riches and prowess they attain, especially when comparing themselves against their contemporaries.

I could go on and on but you get the point. It seems we always have to assess where we are in comparison to someone else or against a cultural or societal norm and we do so to our own demise.

For where does a consistent attitude of falling short of the mark leave us?

Unsatisfied, self conscious, stressed, impatient, intolerant, insecure, lacking self esteem, and always coveting something greater and better.
Sound familiar?

Maybe you’re in that place now.
If so, then today’s message, grounded in the words of Jesus, will hopefully bring encouragement to you. For we are not to worry about how the world sees us but rather how we stand in the Lord’s eyes.

As we see in our scripture passage for today, Jesus says the following to His disciples (and us as well):

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
Have you ever compared yourself to a sparrow?
I didn’t think so.
And yet, Jesus chooses something so simple, something so fundamental to underscore an important truth.
You see, sparrows were so prevalent in New Testament times that they were sold for a very small price (two for a penny) but despite their meager cost, Jesus tells us that they still mattered a great deal to God. In fact, it was by His will whether they could and would fly or not.  
So what about us then?

If sparrows count so much to God, then how much more value will we have, those He created in His own image, those who He considers His children.
Indeed, God our Father cares for us so intimately that He knows every hair that is on our head. In fact, scripture tells us they are all numbered! Try to count the hairs on your head or someone else’s and see how far you get. If you try it, you’ll see the absolute amazement found in Jesus’ statement.
Friends, Jesus’ point should be received and understood by all He holds so dear. For if the sparrows were treasured so much by God, then how much more worth do we hold for Him?
The answer is immeasurable worth. In fact, no one will cherish you more than the Lord God Almighty. No one.
Given this, one question:

What are we so worried about?

If God cares for us so much, then why are we worried about what others think? How others judge us? How we judge ourselves?
We do because Satan influences us in a negative way and we let him get away with it. Every person that God created needs to realize that the devil would like nothing more than to have every them feel unloved, undervalued, unwanted, feeling inadequate and unpopular. The enemy longs for us to yearn and covet more and more and more and more, never feeling fulfilled and seeking everything the world has to offer. In fact, he would have us gauge our worth and our happiness on this. And as he succeeds in taking us to a place where we persistently yearn for the things of the world, he successfully steals us away from realizing all the good things that God has provided.
Or in other words, we lose sight of how blessed we really are.
So what are we to do with this scripture and the valuable words of our Savior?
Let’s treasure them and store them away in our hearts and minds forever, never losing sight of this truth:

In the eyes of the Lord, we count, no matter what anyone else might say.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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