June 14, 2021 8:00 pm
Thwack! I looked up and craned my ear toward the sound. Spotting a smudge on the windowpane, I peered out onto the deck and discovered the still beating body of a bird. My heart hurt. I longed to help the fragile feathered being.
In Matthew 10, Jesus described His Father’s care for sparrows in order to comfort the disciples as He warned of upcoming dangers. He offered instructions to the twelve as He “gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (v. 1). While the power to do such deeds might have seemed grand to the disciples, many would oppose them including governing authorities, their own families, and the ensnaring grip of the evil one (vv. 16–28).
Then in 10:29–31, Jesus told them not to fear, whatever they faced, because they would never be out of their Father’s care. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” He asked. “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.”
I checked on the bird throughout the day, each time finding it alive but unmoved. Then, late into the evening, it was gone. I prayed it had survived. Surely, if I cared this much about the bird, God cared even more. Imagine how much He cares for you and me!
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Welcome to this Tuesday edition of the Our Daily Bread Devotional. I'm Elisa Morgan, and I want to encourage you with this meditation I wrote titled, Our Father's Care. In Matthew 10, Jesus described His Father's care for sparrows in order to comfort the disciples as He warned of upcoming dangers. He offered instructions to the twelve as He gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Then, in chapter 10, verses 29 to 31, Jesus told them not to fear whatever they faced because they would never be out of their Father's care.
So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. I checked on the bird throughout the day and each time finding it alive but unmoved.
Then, late into the evening, it was gone. I prayed it had survived. Surely if I cared this much about the bird, God cared even more.
Imagine how much He cares for you and me. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Matthew chapter 10, verses 16 through 20, and 26 to 31. And now I'll read verses 26 to 31. I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. Let's pray. Dear Father, thank you for always watching over us and caring for us. Thank you, Lord, that we matter more than many sparrows. In Jesus' name, amen.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-11-04 10:54:11 / 2023-11-04 10:55:23 / 1
