IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Live Before God

Date: Jul. 17, 2023

Passage

Luke 12:1-12 (ESV)

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:7

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Jesus warned his disciples to not follow in the ways of the Pharisees who lived for public recognition. They hid many evils and put on a facade of righteousness and holiness. To make themselves appear more righteous, they accused everybody of all their outward sins. However, when Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, they became full of anger and hatred. Deep down they feared the public more than God.

When we think that love and belonging come from pretending and performing, masking our true selves, then we are never really accepted for who we truly are. But when we know and accept God's love for us, who created us, even knowing every hair on our heads, then we can find our absolute sense of worth and begin to live before God and not before people's opinions.

God loves us as we are. In him, we do not have to feel ashamed of ourselves, we find his amazing grace to embrace us and heal us of all our sins and shortcomings. He does not reject us but draws near to have fellowship with us through Jesus. We can find confidence and spirit to live in the image of God without fear, even of death.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, help me to know your love and grace for me and I may let go of trying to please and perform for others.

One Word: One Word: You are worth more.

Daily Bread

Worthy is Jesus the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

Key Verse: 5:12

saying with a loud voice,

  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
  and honor and glory and blessing!”

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