Luke 12:1-7

Luke 12:1-7

1. The first thing is Christ's warning against hypocrisy.
2. The second thing is Christ's warning against the fear of man.
3. The last thing is Christ's encouragement to persecuted believers.

"If we would not become Pharisees, let us cultivate a 'heart religion'. Let us realize daily that the God with whom we have to do, looks far below the outward surface of our profession, and that He measures us by the state of our hearts. Let us be real and true in our Christianity."

"We must turn our eyes from those who can only injure us in the life that now is, to Him who can condemn us to eternal misery in the life to come. Armed with this mighty principle, we shall not play the coward. Seeing Him that is invisible, we shall find the lesser fear melting away before the greater, and the weaker before the stronger."

"Let us strive to realize that a Father's hand is measuring out our daily portion, and that our steps are ordered by Him. A daily practical faith of this kind, is one grand secret of happiness, and a mighty antidote against murmuring and discontent."

Questions:

1. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Are we content with fooling man but not being real before God? What are some areas in which this might be the case?

2. The question is not whether we fear man, for this is the default of us all, but how we are seeking to supplant this fear with the greater and life-giving fear of God. Will we pray that the fear of God would be greater in our lives?

3. Take a moment to think about any difficult things happening in your life right now or in the past. Say over each of them, “God could keep away from me these things if He thought fit. But He does not do so, and therefore they must be for my advantage. I will lie still, and bear them patiently.”