“Ye are of More Value than Many Sparrows” – Part forty three

For the first time in my life, I have a feeding station for wild birds — two in fact. True, they are only unshaped planters turned upside down, but they suffice to hold seed without it blowing away from my windy apartment balcony.

What a pleasure it is to watch these little birds! I do not yet know the names of the different varieties, but our Heavenly Father knows them. Luke says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Lk. 12:6,7).

I woke up one morning to see them sitting in a row on the balcony railing. Having been away for a few days, the feeders were empty. In such a short time, these little birds had come to expect the food would always be there. Though I had let them down, we know that our spiritual food will always be where we expect to find it. Neither can we sit and wait for someone to hand it to us; we have to open our Bibles and feed on the precious Word of Life every day for ourselves, even when it has to be “as a sparrow alone on the housetop.”

“Hear my prayer, 0 LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily…I watch, and am like a sparrow alone upon the housetop” (Psa. 102:1,2,7). Seldom do I see a sparrow alone. There are so many of them coming and going. There seems to be no need for any one of them to ever be alone except by choice. It is largely so in the household of faith. Of course, there are those in isolation who have very little opportunity to associate with others of the flock, but most of us have no need to cut ourselves off from the fellowship and friendship of those of our “species.”

There is room for only one bird at a time in the bottom of the cup on the feeder and very often one bird is perched on the rim waiting, usually with commendable patience, until the other flies away, and it takes its turn at the seed. When feeding, their heads go up and down, constantly watching for approaching danger, and at the first alarm away they go to seek safety. When pursuing our natural food, we would do well to be equally alert to the dangers that can come upon us. We are capable of putting our heads into the trough and becoming so intent partaking what the world offers that we are unaware of approaching danger.

From the birds, we learn a lesson of thankfulness that God always has spiritual food ready for us and we are reminded to be alert for the dangers that lurk around us.