Look At the Birds of the Air

(Message: Pastor Philip Joseph on Sunday, the 6th March 2011. Hope I haven’t missed much. Happy reading!)

Matt. 6: 25, 26: Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matt 6: 31: Therefore do not worry…

Sparrow

Our Lord Jesus is asking us to do this: Do not worry about what to eat and what to wear. Therefore: Do not worry about anything; whether about your future, finances or even your basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. Remember Jesus spoke to people in those times, with practical difficulties of getting these basic necessities of food and clothing; for many were laborers earning their daily wages. They would earn something only if they found some work to do on that day.

There may be some in a government job-where you get paid regularly whether you do your work or not. And it is not a simple matter to remove anyone from their government job. You have full job security. There maybe some with private companies or MNC doing well, and you get paid according to the amount of effort you put in and result that you deliver-pretty decent in terms of job security. Others maybe in the business of their own, where there are a lot more uncertainties, because it may involve so many factors extraneous to the job itself; and there will be risks. And there will be others in Mumbai today, who are daily workers toiling away. But whatever is your job today, do not worry!
We must NOT worry: this is the job to do. If you are feeling that this may be a difficult job to do, Jesus answers: “Look at the birds of the air”. Pause, reflect, look at the birds! Did you notice that the birds-they do nothing for their food security? They don’t sow, they don’t reap, they don’t gather into barns, yet…they do not worry! You and I are more precious to God than the birds. God values us-His children, much more and is sure to provide what we need; much more than we as parents do to our children! Do you realize how much we are willing to do for our own children? Regarding their food, clothing, stay, education, play…the list goes on. God will DO MUCH MORE to His children. This is the truth. Get into a revelation of what it is to be found in God’s everlasting arms; to be found in God’s love… and you can find security in Him. Do not worry. Look up… and live.

In the parable of the Sower, Jesus describes the seed that fell among thorns as those who hear the word and receive it; but the cares of this world (yes, the worries) … chokes the word and there is no fruitfulness (Matt. 13:22). You may be in your teens, or in your youth… if you start worrying, your worries will keep you from being fruitful in God’s kingdom. I have shared with you, how as a 15y old, I came to Christ; at that time my biggest worry was my exams and education. But God has taken care and has provided all my needs.
If you are a student, your career may be your biggest worry; if single, then getting married may be worry; of if married, taking care of children may be your worry… and the list can go on. But Jesus warns us that we must be keen not to worry after these earthly things; Christ is coming. Be on your guard; take up a stand; DO NOT WORRY! Jesus is coming again to collect His church-His bride. Nobody knows when the rapture will happen (except the Father); no one can predict that it will not be today! But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. (Luke 21:34, 35).

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
You must choose to cast your cares on Him who cares for you. You must choose to have a talk with Him in prayer, in case something bothers you. If you do these, God’s peace will descend upon you. You can live as free as the birds above-free from worries!
Deut. 32:11: As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the LORD alone led him…
The way of the eagle in the air is simply amazing. The eagle builds its nest in a very high place; it lays its egg, waits for the hatched young bird, which must then learn to fly. The exercise of teaching the young bird to fly is quite unique. The parent eagle ruffles the nest and gently pushes the young bird out of the nest. Most likely, the young bird will flap its wings but may not succeed in flying… but before it falls to the ground, the parent eagle swoops down to catch it mid-air on its own wings and brings it back to the safety of the nest. Few days later, the process of pushing, flapping and swooping… will start all over again; until one day, when its life is made uncomfortable, the young eagle succeeds in flying!
God is dealing with His children in this manner of the parent eagle! James 1: 2-4 says this: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. You know, if God so chose, you and I can live in comfort, with all protection and free from all trials… but you see, we would have been like that young eagle unable to fly. Probably, the young eagle would have thought, ‘How can my parent do this to me? Pushing me away that I fall…’ But then, the parent eagle swoops down and carries it again to safety. Then the young eagle will realize the power, the skill and the care of the parent eagle… more and more. Then one day, the young eagle will realize the reason for all the testing times… and thank its parent for teaching it to fly! We can do this right-away… thank the Lord for all the trials; James says we can count it as joy, because of the result it will produce; we will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. In the meanwhile, we can know Him more and more…
God LOVES you. But He also wants you to fly high… the testing of faith produces endurance. I know Sundays are easy, singing Hallelujah! What about the Mondays and Tuesdays… and the rest of the week. We meet our neighbors near our homes, we meet our co-workers in the office: there are a pile of work ‘to-do’ and the ‘deadlines’… Is your faith intact? God wants you to be mature, perfect and complete…
Are you facing delayed response for your prayers? To God be the glory…great things He has done. Jesus delayed His going to Lazarus’ house, even though He knew he was sick. By the time Jesus arrived at Martha’s place, Lazarus was dead and buried 4 days… What a turnaround on that day, when Jesus spoke “Lazarus, come forth!”; and the dead man came out of the tomb!

Are you facing trials with results that are contrary to what you thought you deserved? Remember Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Next time you go through a trial, remember the eagle! In Psalm 103: 5, we find another image of the eagle-renewed youthfulness! Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Now you know the story of how an eagle’s feathers and talons fall away during it’s life… and it has to wait and wait till new feathers and talons grow again. It may seem like long… but soon it will turn into the swoop, soar and song! Isaiah 40:31 says: But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Are you busy with your routines of life-work, family, sleep, work, family, sleep …? Jacob was into such a routine life of hard-work, toil, sheep, family, wives, children for many years… until all alone, Jacob met with God one day. And his life was changed! His name was changed… to Israel.

Do not worry about the basic necessities. Do not worry about the future necessities. Look at the birds of the air! In all your trials, look at the eagle; take it to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving… peace and joy is your portion. You will soon learn to fly! You will become mature, perfect and complete. In the meanwhile, you can be immersed in His love and His care; and know Him more and more. In your waiting, look at the eagle… it is just a matter of time before your youth is renewed. You will gain new strength… you shall run and not be weary; you shall walk and not faint. Amen.