The Pilgrim Path---Matthew 10: 29 – 33

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

“…EVEN THE HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD”

A child gave me a picture after church not long ago. Unique artwork. Special child (we are all special you know). It had a nifty caption: “You think of me when you look at this.” As I type this---the picture is beside me. It will be a long time before I forget this soul! More importantly---The Father of Life has all his hairs numbered. All our hairs are meticulously calculated every moment of everyday. The Loving LORD is arranging all things for our benefit since we belong to HIS Son (Romans 8: 28). We were chosen “in” Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1: 4). We were elected to be “like” the Son---and the Father is merely doing what is essential to conform us to HIS image. The birds fall under the Father’s watchful gaze---every single one---but we are of far greater significance than birds. We are joint heirs with the Holy One---and He loves and cares for us. Oh LORD, forgive my doubts and fears!

We tell people along life’s road that they are not accidents---or evolutionary fodder---or the products of fate. We let them know that we--- like them---are image bearers of the Living God. We assure them---we are not alone. We are not left in chaos---or to the curse of our own sinfulness or confusion. The LORD God Almighty has made Himself known to us--- in the Person and Cross-bearing Ministry Work--- of Jesus Christ the LORD. Life is short---Death is sure---Sin the cause---CHRIST the Cure!

In an age of hopelessness, people need to know that they are image bearers of God. It is an awesome privilege to tell people that they were made for the GOD who made them. It will not take much to acknowledge that there is real evil, trauma, trouble---transgression in the world. We pray the souls that we begin to “talk” with will begin to acknowledge their own “sin” before the Holy God of Heaven. People need a Savior---before they would ever run to HIM in faith believing! The broken---may rest assured---that there is a Savior who loves any sinner who is ready to “turn” from their sin to HIM. Thanks be to God!

From Ezekiel Hopkins: Nothing comes to pass without our heavenly Father. No evil comes to pass without his permissive providence, and no good without his ordaining providence to his own ends.

From John Flavel: If you would but sit down and review, from the beginning, what God has been to you, and done for you. Consider the special manifestations and out-breakings of his mercy, faithfulness, and love in the conditions you have passed through. Let your thoughts dive as far as you can to the bottom, to plumb the depths of providence, and admire them, though we can’t touch the bottom. Ponder the seasonableness of the mercies. Exact timing makes a mercy a thousand-fold more considerable and enhances the value of such a mercy. Ponder his peculiar providence for you among others. This particular attention heightens the mercy and endears it even more to us.

From John Duncan: The LORD give us open hearts, to hide no sin from him, that, while we confess with shame, we be not ashamed to confess.

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason