April 6--Sparrows

Sparrows

Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20 Luke 11:37-12:7 Psalm 78:1-31 Proverbs 12:19-20

My bird feeder runneth over with sparrows. It’s always been that way. Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, I helped keep the bird-feeder full and the sparrows were the most plentiful of all the many species of birds. My wife, Anita, bought me a bird-feeder last year for my birthday, and here in Carrollton, Texas the sparrows are also the most abundant species of birds at my feeder. I counted a dozen eating at one time the other night. So, I can relate to what Jesus said in our reading for today, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

You are worth more than many sparrows to God! There sure are a lot of sparrows around; and I hope that you can join me in letting sparrows be a reminder to you of God’s unconditional love for you, His omniscience in knowing everything about you and His omnipotence in watching over you. We have nothing to fear! God cares about the sparrows and He cares infinitely more about us. He is watching over us.

There’s one more lesson to connect to sparrows. Sparrows should remind us that God desires reciprocal love and that our salvation depends on that reciprocity. He loves us so much more than sparrows that He sent His son Jesus to live, die and rise from the dead to make possible our eternal relationship with the Father and to prevent our eternal separation from Him. In both the gospel of Matthew and here in Luke, Jesus tells of the sparrows in the context of warning us about hell: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him” (Luke 12:4-5//Matthew 10:28).

If you are ever at my house looking out the kitchen window at the sparrows, I will quiz you on this. Besides reminding us not to be afraid, and reminding us of God’s love, knowledge and power concerning every detail of our lives, the sparrows remind us to revere God with a holy fear. May we not be afraid of anything more than we fear separation from God. Next time you feel tempted or feel afraid, remember the sparrows!

Pastor Paul