Your Heavenly Father Feeds
I was always fascinated by Matthew 6:26, which reads, "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?" Now, growing up, whenever we finished the loaf of bread and all was left were what we termed "the ends," the birds were fed. However, bread was expensive and we didn't necessarily have it every week and because I could seriously eat an entire loaf in about a day or two. Yet, like clockwork, I faithfully tossed "the ends" atop the roof of the garage for the birds to eat. Fast forward a few decades and I elected to purchase a bird feeder. Now, I also have added bird seed in the budget. When I first put the stand out, it was near the front porch. Big mistake. That decision required a lot of "clean up" from their feasting. So, I moved the feeder into the yard. And week after week, I fill it up and they consume it. Little birds, large birds, repeat offenders and the like have become accustomed to "neither reaping nor storing," and yet our heavenly Father, has me set up to feed them. Even as it empties down, the moment I replenish the feeder and walk into the garage, the birds return to begin again. As I restocked this week, I wondered about my trust in God and the extent to which it either aligns or differs from the trust the birds have.
If I'm honest, I don't always feel as though God will respond to my needs. Let me be more deliberate; I don't always feel as though God will respond to the needs that are less tangible and visible. However, nothing can happen minus trust, for it is the foundation of our faith as believers. And if I'm even more transparent, do I assume the action to go to the place where I know I will meet Him? Or I have I been disappointed such to the extent that I fail to go? I am working to get to a place so hidden in the truth of God that I know when I seek Him, I will receive. Receiving may not look like what I envision, what I hope or even what I expect nor deserve, but simply because I am loved and He knows most what I need (and don't) and I trust Him to work all things together for my good. Similar to the birds, I can show up and expect that He will meet me, over and over again and clean up after the messes I've made.
The essence of salvation is buried with the reality that sowing nor reaping is required. The debt was paid at Calvary and we are benefactors of the resurrection. Through the Blood of Jesus, our sin was atoned and accordingly, we can just show up like the birds, knowing that the feast of forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, deliverance, acceptance, liberation and assurance is ours for consumption. God has an endless supply. We were factored into the budget over 2000 years ago and we needn't worry about any of what we truly need to run out. So, when I'm saddened or anxious about when God will "turn it around," I take a look outside and am reminded to "look at the birds of the air," and that I and you are "much more valuable than they." If God takes care of them, He certainly will take care of us. Therefore, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32). Let us not worry. If God orchestrated the birds to be fed through my amazon prime on a regular basis, surely, He is well aware, positioned and sufficient to feed you. And me (note to self).