Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

Bird-watching is a favorite past time for many. Jesus told his disciples to look at the birds. There was much they could learn by bird-watching.

“Behold the fowls of the air,” he said. “For they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

Then he asked them, “are you not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26) If the Father takes such good care of the birds, how much better does he take care of them.

Therefore, they were to give no thought to their needs. (V.31) Their heavenly Father knew what they had need of. (V.32)

On another occasion, Jesus spoke to his disciples about their enemies. He said to them not to fear those who can only kill the body but could not kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28)

A sparrow cannot fall to the ground without the Father knowing about it. (V.29) The disciples were more valuable to him than many sparrows. (V.31)

There are many who enjoy watching birds. There are also many who enjoy listening to the birds.

Travelers on the Amazon River in South America sometimes hear a most mournful wailing just as night begins to fall. The Indian guides tell them that it is a bird making the noise.

It is said that the sound is so piteous and sad that they have given the bird a name which means “The Cry of a Lost Soul.”

When a lost soul cries out to the Lord Jesus, sorrow is turned into joy.