The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Tender Mercies"
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing (penny)? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."
(Matthew 10:29)
I am not sure how many times I have cited this passage during more than twenty six years of writing and sending out these messages, or in preaching and teaching. But it's been a bunch! I also do not fully know what the Lord Jesus Christ meant regarding His Father's presence and involvement in the passing of even the most seemingly insignificant of His creatures. I do know that our Savior spoke to wonders of His Father's heart that bear witness to the Psalmist's exultation, "His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9).
Yesterday, the glory of Matthew 10:29 shone forth in vivid and tangible display. A serviceman came to our home to do recall work on our air conditioner. He stepped into the backyard, and I soon followed. "You are not going to believe what just happened" he said as I reached him. "A little bird just fell out of the sky." I looked down to see a small, beautiful blue bird lying on the ground, flitting his wings in an obvious attempt to rise and fly. He was not successful at the time. I went back into our house to get some gloves, hoping to be able to help the bird in some way. When I returned, the serviceman looked at me. "Well, again, you're not going to believe what happened. The bird flew away!" I was shocked, but of course gladdened since I am not trained in veterinary medicine for fowls. Immediately, Matthew 10:29 came to mind. I shared the passage with the serviceman, and realized after hundreds of verbal and written recitations of Matthew 10:29, I had just seen it blessedly illustrated.
A wide range of estimates exists - 50 to 430 billion - regarding how many birds are in the world. We occasionally have six of them on our small bird feeder at one time! We do know that not one of them flies, nests, lives, or dies apart from the attentive concern of our Heavenly Father. The same mercy applies to "all His works." An infinite God, capable of such pointed focus, astounds and boggles our minds. Far more, a good God, good beyond all conception, overwhelms our hearts. "The love of Christ passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). Indeed, it is one wondrous thing that our Heavenly Father can see every bird, every creature, and every atom as if it alone exists. It is another beyond wonder that He pointedly directs His glorious heart and mind toward all, including the falling of a single sparrow. Or, of a little blue bird He enabled to arise and soar when it seemed he might never fly.
We do well to apply this truth to our own hearts and lives, as the Lord intended. "Ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). How might the truth of God's loving focus apply to your life and mine in this day? This moment? How might it impact concerns for our loved ones, or others in our sphere of influence? How does it apply to the blessings and challenges of our lives, or to the world itself? We shake our heads in the mystery of such divine devotion to His creation. Far more, we bow our hearts in amazement, appreciation, admiration, and adoration. As the old hymn beautifully sings, "His eye is on the sparrow." Even more, the heart that directs God's eye is on every creature with caring and compassion - "tender mercies over all His works." Certainly, over a little blue bird, and even more certainly, over you and me.
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion."
(Psalm 111:4)
Weekly Memory Verse
We do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies."
(Daniel 9:18)
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