[Jesus speaking]
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Sometimes we get it stuck in our minds that we are supposed to compare our lives with lives of others around us. This can be OK, if we are trying to model their excellent behavior and learn from them. But if, instead, we compare ourselves to them and feel sorry for ourselves, allowing envy or bitterness to creep in, then we are in a sinful place indeed. We might compare that this neighbor has a more expensive car or that neighbor never seems to have any family problems. This type of comparison breeds selfishness and a habitual way of just living for status and things.

Jesus asks us to consider another type of comparison. Not one that leaves us depressed and wanting, but one that leaves us encouraged and thankful. He says to compare his love for us to his love for sparrows. Sparrows are a relatively insignificant bird. They are small, all over the place, and they are really tough to track. And the implication is: if God can track the relatively insignificant and intractable sparrow, and he cares about them, then think about how much he cares about us, whom he made in his own image.

Also, hair falling from our heads happens usually every day, and we don’t even notice it. If God cares about something so insignificant, then he cares about my days and weeks and my ups and downs.

When I stop and think about the incredible Father in Heaven I have, it is all I can do to marvel at how blessed and honored I am to serve him.

Lord, thank you so much for caring about me in such a great way. You are incredible! Help me to rest in your care and have confidence that you’re watching over me.