Articles
Bird Watching
“BIRD WATCHING!”
Most of you know that we live in the country and are surrounded by fields and woods. One of the things that I like to do is feed the birds and keep track of the different kinds that visit the feeders. God’s creation is fascinating, and the number of different species of birds amazes me. Beautiful red cardinals, blue jays, goldfinches, robins, hummingbirds, and woodpeckers are colorful visitors to the feeders. Occasionally, in the spring or the fall, we are visited by unusual species that are migrating either north or south. Sometimes, a large number of sparrows will arrive and scare the other birds away. Sparrows generally are not very colorful or exciting to watch. However, they are part of God’s creation as well as the other birds. In Genesis 1:20, we read that God created birds on the fifth day of creation.
Jesus states in Matthew 10:29, ”Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. God cares about the sparrows that fall just as much as He cares about the cardinals, woodpeckers, and other colorful birds. Knowing that God cares for the lowly sparrows is comforting to me when I realize that God also cares for me. In Luke 12:7, Jesus states, “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.” I am glad that God cares for the sparrows, and I am even more glad that God cares for me. Even though I am a sinner, God still values me and my soul.
In 2 Peter 3:9, we read, “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” It reminds me that God cares about all of His creation, and I should as well. I need to be careful about my attitude toward others whose behaviors upset me. I need to remember that God cares for them just as much as He cares for me. I need to be willing to share “The Good News” with them. My job is not to despise them but to offer to them “The Word” that saves me. It amazes me that Our God knows all about the sparrows as well as the souls of all humans.
Written by Larry Schneider
