Today’s scripture: Luke 12:1-7 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Vivian Wyatt):
Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples…
Can you imagine it? You are one of the twelve. You are with Jesus as he teaches and heals. I imagine you could be feeling you had it made. But Jesus, knowing he would not be with you forever, still had a lesson to teach.
On this particular day Jesus was besieged; there were so many people following him they were trampling each other. But he chose this time to speak to his disciples before he addressed the crowd. I believe he picked this time because he wanted them to not be fooled by the current popularity they were experiencing, and to remember the hostility he had been facing only a little while ago. The disciples could easily get caught up in being popular, and maybe even soften what they needed to say in order to remain popular. Jesus said there would come a time when the very thing they whispered inside would be yelled from the rooftop. Jesus wanted them to be authentic, whether the crowds were fawning or calling for their heads.
I imagine that this was a perilous time for Jesus and his disciples in spite of the current popularity. At the end of the previous chapter, the Pharisees and experts were lying in wait to catch Jesus in something. There would come a time when the Pharisees would want to cause Jesus and his disciples harm. Jesus wanted the disciples to know that there was something worse than death — being cast into hell, and the one who could do this is the one they needed to fear, not the Pharisees.
Finally, Jesus wanted to assure them they will not be alone. In fact, God never forgets even the sparrows, and the disciples are worth much more than that. God will never forget them.
It was important to Jesus that the disciples knew that they had to be authentic in their dealings (regardless of whether they would be liked for it or not). He wanted them to know that they did not need to fear their detractors because God was with them. This is a good lesson for me, today.
Prayer for today: Gracious God, let me always be genuine in my dealings with others. Let me speak truth and do that what is right even if it makes me less popular. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.