“Don’t be afraid” is one of the most common commands in the Bible for a reason. We tend to fear, to worry about what the future might hold. Our minds may see truth in Jesus’ question, “Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?” But our hearts still tend to worry. Jesus tenderly called his followers his “little flock,” an image of God’s deep desire for their ultimate well-being.

• Almost everyone who heard Jesus say “There is more to life than food and more to the body than clothing” lived in near-poverty. They had few material assets, if any, so one accident, illness or unjust act by a powerful person could leave them destitute. Does the principle behind Jesus’ words apply equally well to the relative affluence and safety of life in the United States in 2015? How can Jesus’ wisdom help you set your financial and emotional priorities for the New Year?
• Our culture stresses “standing on your own two feet.” The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery noted, however, “The flock can also be an image of vulnerability. Thus we find the disciples called a ‘little flock’ that needs to be commanded to ‘fear not’ (Lk 12:32) … As a … metaphor, the flock is an apt picture of the combined people of God under his care.” How easy or hard do you find it to put more trust in God’s care for you than in your own efforts? Are you okay with being part of God’s “flock,” not just a free-standing individual?