the birds of the air

The following meaningful devotional comes from Scott Williams, who recently launched a creation care effort called Creation Hope.  Scott posts a weekly reflection in a Green Verses series, which "highlight(s) scriptures that point to God as the Creator, His sovereignty over the earth, His redemption of the earth, and our call to participate in that redemption."  This one, on Matthew 6:26, caught my attention especially:

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Revised Standard Version)

Often we focus on the second half of this verse which says, “Are you not of more value than they?”  And given the context of Jesus words on worry, this seems to be the primary focus.  Nevertheless, it is important to take a moment and note the value that the birds of the air have in the eyes of God.  This verse indicates that God pays careful attention to ensure that they receive each meal.  Even these easily forgotten or ignored animals are of great value in His eyes.  This is not just in a vague, distant way, but in a way that involves active love.  It’s only when we fully appreciate this first part of the verse that we can truly understand the second part.  Ponder today about just how much God loves and cares for all of His creation.

Scott and I connected just a few weeks back, and it's been a real encouragement getting to know him and Creation Hope, and knowing how much he supports not one sparrow in return.  We're hoping to find ways to collaborate and support each other's mission in the coming months.  Please take a moment to check out Creation Hope and their great blog, and you can find them on Facebook and Twitter as well. 

(many thanks to Scott for sharing "Green Verses: Matthew 6:26" with us, originally posted at Creation Hope; photo courtesy Cathi Leibforth)