by Jerry Senn
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they” (Matthew 6:26).
There are millions and millions of birds, and to me they mostly seem healthy and happy. They don’t seem to be suffering from anxiety or stress-related diseases. Jesus said God is taking care of them. They don’t store up food for later, but are content to rely on their Creator for their supply.
Jesus wants us to feel content in our reliance on Him as well. Of course he isn’t implying we should ever become lazy. The birds are instinctively pursuing the blessings supplied by God. And those I watch are regularly doing just that around my feeder each day.
The application of this text is: The birds demonstrate God’s care for the lower creation, and thus we who are a much higher creation can be assured of his great care.
Said the robin to the sparrow:
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”Said the sparrow to the robin:
“Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father,
Such as care for you and me.”
Birds do not bear God’s image, but we do! There’s no reason we should be anxious! Be not dismayed…God will take care of YOU…and me.