Watching sparrows – When I look out the window in my study, I see an elaborate vine on the top of my wooden porch. Though I don’t like this vine, I love to watch the vast array of birds that visit, with some making their summer homes there.
I’m not an ornithologist or even a card-carrying bird watcher. Sadly, I couldn’t tell you if I’m looking at a wren or a sparrow. Nevertheless, I enjoy watching God’s creation busily working to follow their inborn nature. Their work refreshes me for none of these creatures are capable of evil. Only the fallen progeny of Adam can, and gleefully do sin. But I diverge from this good news from Jesus which He communicates to us through His beautiful creation, the sparrow.
Sparrows
Luke 12:6 (NIV), “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.“
Matthew 10:29, 31 (NIV), “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Jesus tells us that two sparrows sell for a penny, yet five sparrows sell for two pennies. Sparrows are of such little value, at this time in history, that if you buy four, you get one free. So, God highly regards a life that the world says is devoid of value.
Peace
Verse thirty-one of Matthew, chapter ten, is an anchoring promise for us. We see two marvelous declarations from Jesus. Jesus says, “So don’t be afraid.” Someday I may try to count how many times the Bible records Jesus saying, “Don’t be afraid” or “Peace, be still.”
Fear is the go-to tool the enemy in his fight against the saints of God. From hero’s like Abram (i.e., Abraham) when, in Genesis 15:1, the LORD says, “Do not be afraid, Abram.” to Jesus speaking to His Apostles in John 6:20. … “It is I; don’t be afraid.” And, here in Matthew 10:31, we are told, “don’t be afraid.” From these statements we know two things. One is that people become afraid; even anointed heroes become fearful. Secondly, no matter what may befall us, we should rest in Jesus.
You Are Valued
Also, and perhaps more surprising, we have Christ’s promise to us in Matthew 10:6, “…you are worth more than many sparrows.” God values us even when the world sees no value in us – two sparrows for a penny and five sparrows for two pennies. The fifth sparrow is of no value to the world. But God switches around the world’s economy. Here, Jesus says we are worth more than the fifth sparrow because that fifth sparrow is among the number of “many sparrows“; “yet not one of them is forgotten by God.” (Luke 12:6).
So, don’t be afraid of how this world values you. In fact, don’t be afraid at all. Many of us may be the fifth sparrow, the one that is of no value in the economy of this world, but we know God has not forgotten us so we will not give in to fear.
Photo by Will Bolding on Unsplash
You may like:
https://rockexcavationservice.org/2019/04/22/by-name/