The Birds of the Air

[Jesus said] “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).

 

Do you ever feed the birds in your yard? I am certainly not a “birdwatcher”; however, I have always maintained a wildlife feeder at our homes. Much like the one I’ve pictured here, my feeders have always been built to hold fifty pounds of feed and sit on the ground to accommodate different kinds of wildlife. Through the years we’ve had deer, wild turkeys, racoons, foxes, and just about every native bird in the area visit our feeder. I particularly like to see the numbers of some of them swoop in and begin feeding. Doves are almost always in abundance at our feeder here in Texas, though we’ve seen many other varieties. I’ve also provided nesting boxes for some of the species. We usually see three pair of Eastern Bluebirds in the spring as they raise their brood. I am amazed at the beauty and variety the feeder attracts.

 

God cares for all His creation. This is especially true considering my comments yesterday as we focused on the difficulty that many people are facing at this time of the year. Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (v. 26). I find it very encouraging knowing that God is not merely aware of the needs of His creation, but He is providing for each one.

 

Notice how Jesus points our attention to the birds so that we can reflect on and understand more about God’s love and care for us. God has made birds a beautiful part of his creation. Yet, they seem almost insignificant considering the difficulties we often face. As many of you may know this year, I’m in the midst of a health issue going from one doctor to another as they try to determine what’s happening. It can feel a little discouraging not knowing why I can’t seem to breathe very well; however, I need to remember that even though I don’t know what’s going on, God does. And, He has filtered it through His loving hands to bring good into my life. After all, He does that for the “birds of the air.” Doesn’t He love us much more? Of course He does!