Your Heavenly Father Feeds the Birds

Matthew 6:26 “...your heavenly Father feeds [the birds]...” During long, cold winter nights, feathers are excellent insulation, especially down feathers. Feathers are designed to trap heat when fluffed, keep birds warm and repel water. While some birds migrate to warmer areas, many species will crowd together among evergreens, in a cavity, or in a birdhouse and stay warm.

Look at the Birds

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air”. There are about 9,000 species of birds. All lay eggs, perfectly designed for structural strength, loaded with protein, and rich in nutrition. Birds were designed to build a wide diversity of nests that are artistic and complexly engineered.

Inheritance

What is the inheritance of the saints, those made holy by God? The inheritance of the saints is the culmination of all God’s plans, New Jerusalem and a new earth where God and humanity can live together, making all our earthly time of testing pale into insignificance, “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4 NASB)

IS

Luke 22:19 “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This IS My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” How IS the Bread Jesus’ Body? Eastern Christians rightly call this a “mystery.”

The new covenant, is also the New Testament, because a testament involves the death of the testator. In this case, the death of Jesus. Communion is a sacrament[1] (“this IS” not “this symbolizes”, but also not “this transubstantiates”), an ordinance (“do this”), and also a remembrance (“in remembrance of me”).

[1] The most ancient Christian definition of sacrament is a mystery now revealed to the Church (Mark 4:11, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:16). It is also a visible expression of an invisible grace. Ancient Christians believed that all of life was a sacrament and thus it could not be limited in number.

Passover

Luke 22:14 “When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.” The appointed hour that the Passover was to be killed was culturally from three to six p-m, towards evening (Exodus 12:6), and eaten shortly thereafter. Jesus reclined rather than stand as once required by the law (Exodus 12:11).

Luke 22:15 “And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” The letter-of-the-law time of Passover was actually 24 hours later. It is clear that Jesus was not legalistic. Christians understood this freedom and later changed the time of Easter, which is still called Passover in most languages.

Why are You Afraid?

Mark 4:40 says, “And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Are our lives ruled by fear? Faith is trust in God. Do we trust God? Why didn’t the disciples ask Jesus for help? Why did they react so sharply and ask him if he cared? That’s what fear does. It makes us belligerent. Even being falsely accused, Jesus calmed the sea. God is merciful towards our fear. And then, the disciples fear Jesus and not the storm. Let us bring our fears to God and watch as he transforms them. God is so much bigger and filled with grace than we thought.

2 Corinthians 4:18-5:1 Our Christian Hope

2 Corinthians 4:18-5:1 says, “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Let’s take our minds off what we see, our worldly worries, and focus on that which is unseen. Our perspective changes. Everything in this world is temporary and our eternity waits. Meditation on this invisible hope is a necessary Christian habit.

1 John 4:12-13 Spirit of Love

1 John 4:12-13 says, “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” No one has ever yet seen God. Why does John say this here? How can we love an invisible God? We show love to God by loving the image of God in His people. In other words, love of faulty fellow church goers proves the indwelling of God. That is, possession of the loving Spirit proves “we abide in Him”.

Sacrifices

Soldiers go to war voluntarily, usually. Police officers voluntarily sacrifice their safety. Parents sacrifice for their children. Missionaries sacrifice equity, savings, and personal safety to go overseas and spread Christianity. Even retailers sacrifice privacy in order to be able to make money. Everyone sacrifices something so we can live together in peace. Medical Doctor Commander Edward Jewel wrote in the New Yorker in 2003 that he treated enemy prisoners of war.1 He soon realized that could be his job for the duration of the war in Iraq. The greatest sacrifice is the one who lays down his life for an enemy. Jesus died while we were still enemies (Romans 5:10).

1 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/06/12/soldiers-stories

Shepherds

I grew up spending summers on my uncle’s sheep farm. Though I learned a lot about sheep, I did not learn much about shepherding. Later I became pastor of a rural church with many sheep farmers. Though I learned a lot more about sheep from them, I still did not learn much about shepherding until I met Robin. She was a shepherd. There is a difference. Sheep farmers have thousands of sheep, but Robin had a small flock and knew each one by name. Sheep often flee a sheep farmer, but when Robin took a small can of grain and shook it, they came to her and they knew her voice. That’s an advantage of small churches. Jesus is like Robin. He is the Good Shepherd and calls us into his flock to be cared for individually (John 10:10-18).