FREE and Never Forgotten!

As you walk into my office the first thing you will see on the wall, above the window where you see a variety of birds playing and feeding outside, is a sign that reads:

I sing because I am Happy
I sing because I am Free
For His eye is on the Sparrow
And I know He watches Me.

The reason I love these words is because it is a simple reminder of the profound depth of how great a value is placed on each of God’s creations, especially His children. That means you and me. There is nothing or no one that is invaluable in God’s eyes, which is why we have every reason to sing. God’s love was given sacrificially so that we could be free and never forgotten.

Those words on the sign draw me to the verse in Luke where God shows us how important all His creation is to Him. “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God” (Luke 12:6). Here is one of the tiniest of God’s creatures yet they are important enough to be singled out in scripture. “Not one of them is forgotten before God.”

Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt forgotten? You are not alone, many of us have walked in those same shoes. That’s why this verse is so precious. It does not matter the cause, God knows your story! Be it because of having no one around or the feelings of being forgotten that can come from depression, the death of a loved one, dealing with addiction, abuse, or shame, the list can go on and on, still not even a little sparrow is forgotten before God. You however, are of a much greater value to our Lord!

As much as scripture is pointing out that tiny sparrow’s significance, it is also showing how important we are to God by contrasting our value and the way He cares about every detail of our being. “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 NKJV).

This is one of those concepts of God’s that I constantly have to come back and visit over and over again. It is so vast, yet so intimate, all at the same time. It correlates, in my mind, to the ultimate act of love where Christ died for all of mankind, setting us free. Yet it’s so personal, He cares about all the details of our lives, down to every hair on our head. What an amazing and humbling concept to grasp, much like that tiny sparrow not being forgotten by God!

Sometimes the very thing that makes us feel forgotten or separated from Christ is the chains of the past that keep trying to reattach and steal our joy from today. The sin that Christ already forgave on the cross is our gift, if we accept it. But now we sometimes find those old habits or even memories try to get in the way. We want to get rid of those things that so easily trip us up, to let it go and live FREE.

That is why scripture is a wonderful part of our gift from God. If you grab hold of the words in Luke then you can begin to realize…YOU matter to God. Even the hairs on your head matter. Even the things you are wanting to overcome, they matter to Him. Every single detail of your life matters. “Do not fear…you are of more value than many sparrows.” Can you allow yourself to grab hold of the beauty of the intimate way in which that is being said? It is my prayer that today this hits you, whoever and wherever you are: YOU matter to God! He gave His life so that you could be free and never, ever forgotten.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.”

(Luke 12:6-8)