The Good far outweighs the bad

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

If you are seeking to live your life as a disciple of Jesus Christ, reading Matthew chapter ten is a tough read. Jesus was sending out the twelve apostles, and warning them of what they were to face as his disciples. Warning them of the calamities to come, but assuring them of the comfort of God’s sovereignty covering their every step. Jesus was telling them of how they would be persecuted, but promising them not to worry, for God would even give them the words to speak at the minute they were needed most. I can assure you, every pastor has been in those shoes unprepared for a sermon, and became just a mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit that Sunday. Sermons that spoke directly to what someone needed to hear, but the preacher likely can’t recall what he said. I can attest to you, humbling cannot begin to describe the weight of that feeling of being used by God.

Jesus is giving the apostles all this bad news, but in the midst of it, even more good news. He was assuring them that God has a control over his creations that we cannot fathom. He can direct our paths, put words in our mouth, protect us from evil, but even the little creatures are not apart from his control. Free Will is a gift from God, but does not mean we ultimately control all that we face in life. Our limited minds (by his design), cannot comprehend the complexities of Free Will intertwined with God’s Sovereign control. Do not let Satan use the complexity of it to divide your faith in it. If you say that you believe the Bible, believe the complexity of it; 29 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. How great would your God be if you had all the answers?

All that you are facing in life is filtered through God’s hands; by allowing it or designing it, the purpose of it is to draw you closer to him or show you your need for him. Understanding that statement greatly simplifies your life. Understanding that truth greatly increases your faith, and allows you peace in the midst of life’s storms. Being a Christian in today’s world is becoming more likely you will suffer persecution but, understanding that God is allowing that to happen, gives you strength to face that storm in faith, and to testify of him. You faith must grow in preparation of, and then it will increase as you face these trials. Jesus told the apostles, 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” Jesus loves you so much that he is allowing you to go through whatever you are facing. Jesus loves you so much that he knows it can draw you closer to him. Jesus loves you so much that he wrote of his promises in the midst of his warnings in Matthew ten. The good outweighed the bad.