By Rev Tan Eng Boo
“His Eye is on the Sparrow
And I know He watches me”
(Civilla D. Martin)
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 ESV)
Perched on a tree branch, two birds were observing passers-by rushing from one place to another.
“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
They have no heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.’
If God cares for the sparrows and the robins of how much more value are we to Him as the above verses assures us.
In Matthew 10:29, Jesus said that a pair of sparrows are sold for two pennies. In Luke 12:6, Jesus said five sparrows are sold for two pennies. (You get one extra sparrow thrown in when you pay for two pennies). These birds are so common in Israel. In fact, they are so common all over the world. In Singapore, we see them almost everywhere, especially in the hawker centres. Yet we read that none of them will fall to the ground without the Father’s knowledge. Luke 12:6 tells us “… And not one of them is forgotten before God.” Will God forget you? What a comforting thought.
Sparrows are the most insignificant of all birds. In the birding community this is one of the least photographed birds.
Joni Eareckson wrote:
“I glanced at the bird feeder and smile. I could understand Jesus noticing an eagle… But a scrappy sparrow? They’re a dime a dozen. Jesus said so himself. Yet from thousands of bird species the Lord chose the most insignificant, least-noticed, scruffiest bird of all. A pint-size thing that even dedicated birdwatchers ignore. That thought alone calmed my fear. I felt significant and noticed… If the great God of heaven concerns himself with a ragtag little sparrow clinging to the bird feeder outside my window, he cares about you”
In the eyes of God, no one is insignificant, especially the children of God.
In 1904, a songwriter, Mrs. Civilla Martin, visited a bedridden friend and asked if the woman ever got discouraged because of her physical condition. Her friend replied: “Mrs. Martin, how can I be discouraged when my heavenly Father watches over little sparrows and I know that He loves and cares for me?” On her journey home, Mrs. Martin completed composing the lyrics to her hymn, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” which has since been a blessing and an encouragement to so many of God’s people.
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Perhaps you are feeling discouraged or worried at the moment as you enter an uncertain 2021. You may want to be reminded that there are no challenges or situations we face that God cannot handle. He is an all-knowing, all-seeing God who keeps his eyes on us and watches over us by day and night. “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry” (Psalm 34:15 ESV).
God’s care for us is immeasurable. God’s Word is our assurance. Read it. Meditate on it. It is our comfort too. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3 ESV).
Do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10: 31; Luke 12:7). Indeed, God has proven His love for us on the cross of Christ. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus.
Blessed New Year 2021!
Meditate on these verses:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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: 25, 26 ESV)
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