BaptistWay Bible Series for Jan. 8: God’s standards are the only ones that count

Posted: 1/03/06

BaptistWay Bible Series for Jan. 8

God’s standards are the only ones that count

• Luke 12:1-12

By Fallon Curry

Logsdon Seminary, Abilene

What are you afraid of? Fear can prevent us from hurting ourselves. However, fear often paralyzes us into lives of inaction. Is that the way Jesus wants us to live? Is that the way he wants us to serve? Are there things we should fear? The passage for this lesson calls us to look at ourselves and our fears, and consider how we will respond to Jesus’ leadership in our lives.

In Luke 11:37-53, a Pharisee had invited Jesus to dinner with hopes of “catching” him in doing or saying something wrong so that they might have grounds for accusations. At the dinner, Jesus noticed the Pharisee’s surprise that he had not ceremonially washed his hands before the meal. Jesus pointed out how obsessed the Scribes and Pharisees were with how clean they seemed to the world. All the while, their insides rotted like corpses in pretty tombs. Jesus declared that the maker of the outside also makes the inside. Both should be cared for and cleaned.

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In 12:1-12, Jesus returned to his disciples. Thousands gathered to see him perform a miracle. Jesus used this as an opportunity to warn his disciples about the dangers of hypocrisy.

Jesus began by clarifying, in verses 4-7, not to fear someone who can end one’s earthly life. Earthly life always is temporary. He explained that the one to truly fear is the One who has all ultimate power and authority. That One, God, knows and values each of his children. He even knows every hair on our heads! Therefore, the One to fear and trust is the Creator and not the created.

The fear of people feeds into pride which often leads to hypocrisy. It usually starts when a person becomes self-conscious or fearful of what someone else will think, say or do in reaction to certain weaknesses or faults. Sometimes the same type of fear can arise in people who live lives of faith and those who do not. Some people seek ways to cover or hide who they truly are in order to impress and gain favor with those around them. These are people are hypocritical as a result of the fear of people. This is what Jesus condemned.

In verses 2 and 3, Jesus explained that hypocrisy is futile. Everything kept in secret will be exposed for all to see. The Pharisees would be seen as the cruel, legalistic, evil people that they were before God and be required to give account.

This statement also prepared the disciples to fight the temptation to hide the truth they knew. In the near future, they would be tempted to hide in order to avoid hostility from others. This way Jesus was preparing the disciples for a time when their acknowledgement of Jesus as the Christ would become public truths that must be proclaimed.

Followers of Jesus who hide or downplay their faith to gain favor with others also will be exposed. So, if everything eventually will be revealed as it truly is, then hypocrisy is useless.

How do we, then, trust and not fear? Most of us have had the experience as children of jumping off the edge of a dock or pool side into their parent’s arms. Initially, the process for many was somewhat stressful. However, once the child determined to trust his or her parent and jump safely into those waiting arms, the child is not afraid anymore and, usually, they want to “do it again!”

Sometimes overcoming our fears means facing them head-on. In order to get over our fear of people and live in the manner that Jesus would have us live, we must acknowledge Jesus publicly. This does not necessarily mean we must stand on our desks at work and shout or pray obnoxious, loud and lengthy prayers in the middle of restaurants.

Most of the more effective ways we can acknowledge Jesus is to simply put into practice what we have learned from him. Be the only supervisor at our work place that truly lives by “the golden rule.” Be the one willing to befriend those who are difficult to befriend. We acknowledge Jesus by the way we live day-to-day. Verbalizing our faith usually is more effective after our listeners have seen us first prove our beliefs in actions.

Living out our faith takes a lot of help from the Holy Sprit. It is not something that comes naturally. It is something we can learn to do by seeking God daily in prayer and Bible study. The Holy Spirit often teaches us how to conduct ourselves and present our hearts before God in those times that we seek him in various forms of worship. By doing this on a regular basis, we come to know his voice and as verse 10-11 says, he will instruct us on what to say when the hostility or trouble that we might fear comes into our lives.

So, if we are going to be concerned about the thoughts and actions of someone other than ourselves, let us be concerned with the only One that counts. Let us seek God’s approval and will for our lives. Only he knows what is best for us. We can trust our Heavenly Father and jump into his arms. Don’t be afraid. He will catch us and hold us forever.

Discussion question

• How can trusting God help you overcome the fears in your life?