DEVOTION – DAY 594

Luke 12:6-7 “God Values Us”

Luke 12:6-7 “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 all worth more than many sparrows.”

Today, many people seek the approval of their friends, family, colleagues and bosses. Many people go out of their ways to get noticed, receive compliments and attention in order to get praises, recognition and even rewards. There are people who like to post photos, experiences and thoughts on social media platforms in order to secure multiple “likes” and followers. Some even go to the extreme to seek to be influencers by trying to present a certain public image.

But such attention seeking is always short-lived. This is because it is very hard to maintain an image, to get the attention we think we deserve and so on. There will be times when people will end up feeling unappreciated, overlooked, or simply taken for granted. People who once have many followers on social media may lose followers easily when something happens to their public image that they promote of themselves. What the world offers is temporary. 

Instead of seeking what the world has to offer, we are to seek God first. In Luke 12:1-7, Jesus began by warning His disciples against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who liked to project an image of righteousness and religious piety. Jesus warned His followers not to fear or follow them but instead fear and seek God. Jesus reminded His followers in the above verses that just as God values lowly animals like sparrows that could be bought cheaply in the markets as food for the poor, God values His children much more than He values sparrows. Christians are to find their worth and value through their relationship with the Almighty God. Their self-worth can never be found in the things of this world. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us and valuing us as your dear children. Thank you for reminding us that our self-worth is rooted in our relationship with you, a relationship that always deeply satisfies us. Please help us to always look to you and to depend upon you rather on things of this world. We humbly pray in the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What are some things or people that you depend upon to help determine your self-worth? Is it your academic qualifications, your career track record, or your achievements, or your popularity etc?
  2. How reliable are these things or people? Discuss and share.
  3. Why is it important that Christians look to the Lord to find their self-worth? Discuss.
  4. Can you name some privileges and benefits you enjoy as a child of God?