“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. . . . The very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid.” - Matthew 10:28, 30-31
If we are to believe television advertisements, hair loss is a matter of grave concern for men. When bald spots appear and hair lines recede, men spend anxious moments peering into their mirrors, anxiously monitoring hirsute progress (or regress!), worrying about lost youth, and trying desperately to shore up their flagging spirits and their depreciating self-worth. But advertisements tell us that, given the right kind of treatment, their hair can grow again, youth and vigor will be restored, and with luxuriant locks in place they can face the world again, confident and carefree.
If men are concerned about their hairstyles, God is even more so. Jesus indicated that heaven shows surprising interest in a man’s hair. He said, “The very hairs on your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:30). The significance of what Jesus was saying cannot be overemphasized. He wanted men to know that they are so precious in God’s sight that their lives are divinely monitored. What this means is they should be able to approach life’s vicissitudes with confidence, not so much because their hairline is in place, but because their hairs are numbered, meaning the minute details of their lives are known to God—and he cares about them. How much does he care? Changing the picture slightly, Jesus said, “Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. . . . So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows” (10:29, 31). As the old spiritual says,
His eye is on the sparrow.
And I know he watches me!
Life can be unnerving, and circumstances can be disconcerting. But the worries of life must be placed in their proper context. Losing your head matters a whole lot more than losing your hair! But even more important than losing your head is losing your soul. Jesus’ comment on this is noteworthy: “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
So, next time you look in the mirror to monitor your hairline, remember that every hair is inventoried in heaven, because every detail of your life is infinitely precious to God. And don’t forget that one day your hairline won’t matter—the only thing that will matter is heaven or hell!
For Further Study: Matthew 10:28-42
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Men, Copyright ©2000 by Stuart Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Stuart Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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