1He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother; 3Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ 8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. 9Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on. 12As you enter into the household, greet it. 13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. 14Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. 18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. 19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. 23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
34“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. 39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”
The Hairs of Your Head
29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? 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 Therefore, don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.33 But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
Sometimes we might get the idea that we’re not worth much. We wonder how an Almighty God could find time not only to know who we are, but also to play a role in directing our lives. After all, there are about 8 billion humans on the planet, so how in the world could God have any time or interest in what I might be going through? How can I have any value among so many? These doubts are far from the truth that Jesus taught. He explains that even the tiniest sparrow will not die without God being aware of it. He knows us so well that He even knows how many hairs we have on our heads. Think about that! I don’t believe a single human being has ever known how many hairs are on their head, yet the God that created you knows you so well that He, and He alone, knows the number of hairs on your head. Knowing that He knows us so intimately and completely, there is no need to be afraid. He knows your situation.
The paradox is that if God loves us and cares for us, and if we’re so special, why does He allow us to go through the awful things that we endure here on earth? The Book of Job is an ancient look at that same question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” When I went to seminary, I was looking forward to learning what people much smarter than I had to say on the subject. I didn’t find or hear anything new about these questions. I heard others restate the question, but they offered no logical or meaningful answers. I decided to believe what Jesus said. I chose to believe that He is good. I decided to base my life on the truth of God’s word. I chose to believe that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28). And that’s you and me if we love Him. I don’t understand why bad things happen to good people. I think that you and I cannot see the whole picture, and we must choose to believe that He will take us through whatever life brings.
Scripture tells us that He loves us and accepts us and that we have tremendous value and worth. When I was around 15, I decided to follow Jesus. It helped me to see the world differently. Every once in a while, I come across a bird that has fallen to the ground and died. I now look at that little bird, and I know that God in heaven is aware of its death. I know this because Jesus said this. Reader, He knows what you’re going through. He knows the pain in your heart. We experience so many difficulties because we live in a broken and sick world. However, a better day is coming. There will be a day when disease and physical death no longer terrorize us. He is aware of our condition. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. If invited, He is IN your situation. He’s got this. And when He delivers you, ALWAYS give Him the praise. Don’t ever minimize your deliverance. Instead, make it a point of emphasis in your personal testimony, sharing it with others and giving Him all of the glory.