“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledge me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.” - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was just reading psalm 40 using a great app called “through the word,” and the teaching pastor, Sandy Adams, made a point that reminded me how we should ultimately be most thankful for the grace that God has shed on us through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.

The verse that struck me is Psalm 40:12. “For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.”

Most of us are familiar with another verse referencing the number of hairs on our head — that being Jesus’s teaching recorded in Luke 12 where He references how valuable we are to Him; so valuable that The Father even knows the "number of hairs on our head!"  But we can be certain that Jesus knew the Old Testament scripture, and specifically the verse from Psalm 40, comparing our sins to the number of hairs on our head.  

Suddenly Jesus’s teaching about our hair springs to life in a new way. Oh no, we have been exposed!  He knows us inside and out; he knows every sin we have ever committed, are committing, and will ever commit!  I can almost hear an echo as the book of life slams shut with a satanic voice billowing the words, “CONDEMNED!” 

But hold it right there, Satan.  Jesus continues on in the next verse in Luke 12:8, “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledge me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.”

In light of Psalm 40:12, Jesus seems to specifically be saying, “Yes your sins are endless, but if you take refuge under the shadow of my outstretched arms, my blood will be sufficient for you.”  Jesus reminds us that the Father knows the depth of our sin.  He is also reminding us with that same metaphor, rebranding it in a sense, of how deeply he loves us regardless of that sin.  Why?  Because, “…God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” (Romans 5:8-9).  Praise God for this! 

Let's remember this, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’s first coming, which was to accomplish this one purpose: to purchase us back from the evil one so that we may live at peace with Him now and forever.