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Listen while you read: "God Sees The Little Sparrow Fall"1 (Lyrics) |
Matthew 10:29,31 – 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. (NIV 2011)
One of the simplest delights that I had during my childhood days in Scotland was the feeding of sparrows in my backyard. It didn't matter what time of year it was or what kind of stale bread I threw to the birds, flocks of cheeky little sparrows would descend upon the morsels. I loved to watch them hop and bounce around the bread, as well as seeing them play tug-of-war with a large crust. In the saddest of times and gloomiest of days, they always cheered my heart.
I like what Jesus had to say about sparrows. I think that He must have enjoyed watching them, too. Those playful little birds were observed by God, Who knew if even one of them fell to the ground. This reveals to me both the compassion and the pleasure that God has for His creation and the creatures within it. And, as Jesus stated long ago, if God cares so much about common sparrows, how much more does He care about us?
Perhaps you are going through a bad time, feeling really stressed out, or are deeply disappointed. Maybe you're anxious about the future, worried about someone else, or concerned about present difficulties. Please know this: God is watching over you and cares so much for you. Be assured of His presence; know that He has your best interests in His heart.
Point to ponder: What burdens am I carrying today? Am I willing to let God carry me with them?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You said that we are worth so much more than sparrows. You constantly told Your people of God's real and amazing love. In the midst of our setbacks and problems, enable us to be embraced, supported, and upheld by God. In Your holy name, we gladly pray. Amen.
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Thanks for sharing this uplifting devotional today. I feed the birds, too, and love to watch their antics. Blessings.
Thanks John. We too have many around our home. In fact, one baby who sits in the feeder outside our kitchen window and eats to her heart is content.
Hi John
Enjoyed your devotional today.
Always enjoy your devotionals.
John,
Your devotional was as light and cheery as the little sparrows you spoke about. Thanks for reminding us of God’s great love and concern for us, and the pleasure He receives in return. Blessings.
Hi John,
Since we have moved from the big city to rural Texas, we have become aware of and involved with numbers of families who live in conditions that were previously unbelievable to us. Your words of encouragement were needed today as one of “our” families is in such a difficult situation. The Mom and children have finally moved out and we are working with her to go to a “rehab” kind of place with the one-year-old. “We” are caring for the other children. There is so much work to do here with this family, and your encouraging words were very good for me to hear.
Dear John,
I can remember the sparrows being so proliferous that they were a nuisance because of the noise of their chirping were so loud in the bushes where I lived in the countryside.
Then 20 years later the sparrow population was in catastrophic decline being decimated by virus and overpopulation of the starlings that took over their domain.
I am glad to say that now, a further 33 years on, the sparrows are coming back and are in the hedges of our new garden. So now I really appreciate their call and I am glad to see them back again after so long an absence.
I can also add that your devotional was God’s way of saying to me “I am still with you” despite the advent of some pastoral care issues that have to be resolved by me and are in hand.
It is always good to know that God is there at the “right time”! Of course, God is always there, we just feel vulnerable at times.
Dear John,
Thank you for showing me a picture of those little sparrows bouncing around eating crumbs. We had them too, nesting under the eaves of the small wooden granaries we had on our farm, and on the south window sills upstairs. They were around all winter in southern Manitoba.
God’s love still rings in my heart.
Thanks for your reminder.
Keep writing.