More Than Sparrows

Luke 12:7 – Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (NIV)

As the sparrows return for the spring and summer, I enjoy seeing them hop around. They remind me of today's verses. Sparrows are very valuable as a lovely part of God's creation, and we are even more important than those birds. To a bird lover, that is important assurance: we are valuable to someone — God. But do I feel very valuable?

Sparrows were the cheapest birds for sale in Jesus' day, so I am more valuable than that at least. Small and insignificant, but wait — what about counting all my hairs? I have curly hair, real curly down to their roots, thousands. It would be very hard to count all my hair, yet Jesus uses this curly top as an expression of caring — caring for every hair! Is Jesus going too far here? Does God count all of me as valuable? Yes! I am more valuable than many sparrows. Wow!

I often wake feeling as small as the sparrow, insignificant — just a senior. Woe to me! I am now a senior. I have many aches and pains, and my drawer is full of pill bottles. Is there anything about me that God cherishes? Well, enough of my friends in church say I have a good grasp of words for preaching and writing. I have written several books. Is that what God considers as valuable — what I have accomplished?

A look at other verses referring to sparrows casts some light here.

Matthew 10:29 – Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. (NIV)

We are that important and cherished by our heavenly Father. He notes our works, but what really counts here is His love for us. Each one of us is cherished by God! He watches over our every move, our every deed. This is wonderful assurance for all who believe in Him.

Fear not, therefore, and trust in God. We can go through this day knowing that we are all greatly loved and cherished by the Almighty. Indeed, the Lord goes with us, protecting us from a worse calamity when we fail. He is there beside us, carrying us when necessary. Each of us is very small and not very important, but what a God we all have! All we need to know is that we can utterly trust Him in all we do today.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we turn to You this day with trust and love, knowing that You will never forsake us. We have nothing to fear as we go through all we have to do today with confidence and joy. You are going ahead of us to prepare the way. We are small in stature, but You love us. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.