As Americans, we love our security and privacy. We go to great lengths to ensure that our financial safety nets are in place and our personal information is secure. Unfortunately, like anything we love and value in life, this can easily dominate our focus and shape our priorities. The fear of feeling exposed and vulnerable is real. This level of concern can begin to affect how we think about God and how we interact with people. In the beginning of Luke 12, Jesus confronts a misplaced fear that is inherent in all of us—the fear of man. Rather than fearing God, the Pharisees were known to fear their reputation and public opinion. They worked diligently to cover their “personal information” and secure their religious status (v2-3). In a world where we enjoy high levels of privacy and security, these norms can translate over to our spiritual lives as well. It feels very unnatural and uncomfortable to open up to others about our spiritual needs, and so we keep people at arm’s length. We can also operate as if God is unaware or uninterested in our private affairs, resulting in two contradictory lifestyles. When in reality, God knows every thought and sees every deed. Jesus says, “What is said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what is whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.” In other words, there is no privacy with God. Rather than fearing man and guarding our personal data as if man’s opinion is what ultimately matters, fear God—the One who has authority over your soul (v5) and knows every intimate detail about you (v6-7). May we stop trying to hide in the shadows and start trusting God to help us live in the light. –Pastor Nate
Sunday at Liberty
9AM: Parables of the Treasure/Pearl–Matthew 13:44-46
10AM: Pastor Nate–A Disciple Who Perseveres–Luke 12:1-12 (sermon notes)
11:45AM: Potluck
12:30PM: Annual Members Meeting
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