The Hairs of Your Head

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 21

The Hairs of Your Head

Text: Luke 21:12-19

The prevailing attitude and lifestyle of the saints of God must be in imitation of that of the Lord Jesus Christ. He did not waver! And He was not despondent! We must possess our souls in patience, and in courage, and in positivity. How can we fail, with God on our side? How can our promises be taken from us, when God is the Giver of those promises? How can our faith be small, when our God is so Big? How can we deny His Word, when He is the Author?

Persecuted and Hated

If we would be and do what we should in the service of Jesus Christ, then the world will not be our friend – and we will not be living in comfort and ease. The faithful child of God must and will live a life that is noticeably different from the lives of those who are caught up in the things of the world. And this difference that is noticed in us, will be bound to bring out the hatred and opposition of the world of sinners amongst whom we live. They don’t hate us because of who we are (or were). Rather, they hate us for the One Whom we love, and the Jesus Christ Who has saved us and changed us. The ones who live delicately and easily, are the ones who are caught up in the things of the world. I suppose that there have been multitudes and many who have pretended to follow Jesus Christ, who have lived so. But I believe the numbers of those who genuinely follow Jesus Christ do not include very many who are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately.  Lk. 21:17; Mt. 5:10-16; Lk. 7:24-27; Titus 2:11-15

Preserved and Prospered

Despite the hatred and persecutions of the world against us, we can be sure that, as the children of God, we are protected by Him, and He is always with us to deliver us. The certainty is so sure; the protection is so complete; and the Purpose of God for us is so perfect, that the Lord Jesus Christ uses the hairs of our heads to demonstrate the fullness of His preservation for each of who are His. He knows who and when are His people. And He is intimately concerned and involved in the day to day lives of His people. He knows when they need protecting. He knows when they need provision. He knows when they need encouragement. He knows when they need chastisement. What a great and caring and All-Knowing God we have! Lk. 21:18; 12:6-7; Isa. 42:5-7

Patient and Possessing

I like the way that our text verse is worded in the King James Version: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” I almost used this as the title of this sermon. Rather than using this passage to signify a necessary contribution on our part (patience), in order that we might be saved (as some may preach or comment on this passage); I think that we are being encouraged to live a life of patience – patiently waiting for the Will of God; patiently waiting for the Wisdom of God; patiently waiting for the Strength of God; and patiently waiting for the Coming of Jesus Christ. Possess your souls, live out your lives, with and in patience!  What goes on around us must not sway us, must not deter us, and must not prevent us: we are about the business of pleasing a God Who is engaged in the inevitable salvation of our souls and bodies! He is ours, and the world cannot take that away from us – by the Grace of God, eternal life is in our possession. Lk. 21:19; Ja. 5:7-8; Rom. 5:2-5; Heb. 10:36; Ps. 37:7