I almost wrote how do we know from this text that God has helped us in our suffering. But then I found myself replying that God has already done something for us - Christ on the Cross. For me this text is saying that if He values us all that much, to know all the hairs on our heads, how could they let you suffer? it does not mean that we dont suffer in our lives, but more that the suffering is not in vain. Suffering is part of the human condition but with God on side (or more with us on Gods side), there is a definite end to it.

Chapter 11 ends with the Pharisees “vehemently” trying to trap Jesus, “seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.”
Chapter 12 starts with what could become a riot, an “innumerable” crowd massing outside the Pharisee’s house, where Jesus was speaking.  Some disciples were getting nervous that the authorities would intervene.
“Don’t fear them, the worst they can do is kill you” says Jesus, “But God controls this life and the next.  God, who cares for the sparrows, won’t forget you.  Nor will I.  Confess me before men, and I will confess you before God’s angels.”

Place me alone ,
closer to you,
hold up the mirror to what I am and do ,
love me,
mould me ,
hold me in your hand
that I may turn and share you
loved as I am .

Our choices in him give us the freedom to be a unique part of his loving creation

I’m not sure how Jesus words connect with the reality of suffering in our world.  Especially when it comes to young children and babies.  Would they not be afraid or feel of more value than sparrows.  The more I do of this challenge the more questions are raised.  It seems to me the older I get there are more questions than answers and things are no longer black and white, there are more shades of grey.  However, the challenge is great and I’m sure it’s good to look at these things every day and question ourselves.

Today’s verse always reminds me of Hamlet. Where before the duel Hamlet makes a speech about when his life may end. It starts with the heading and always means so much to me. To be even in a theatre and be reminded of God’s providence and care. What more could we ever need.

Today it was reported that kingfishers are starving because they can’t find food in the cold. The wren population is down by as much as 90%. Our culture privileges knowledge, computation, evaluation. What Jesus tells us is that not one is forgotten by God. God remembers. Each one. He isn’t ‘kept informed’. As the Prime Minister struggles to recall whether budgets have risen or fallen ‘in real terms’ I need to ensure that my relationships are based on remembering each individual. And not merely informational That is where true value lies.

Last night at Lent Group we studied the story of the Prodigal Son (last Sunday’s Gospel reading).  And now today we have this verse.  It’s incredible that despite all our faults God loves me and every human being so much! And because God loves us all this much it means that we should value each person that we meet.  If we all as Christians acted that way all the time (but let’s not underestimate quite what a challenge this is) what a transforming presence we would have in the world - the love of God would really shine through us. So today we all need to take up that challenge - starting small!

we live in a world where value is defined by how much we earn and our material possessions. This is not the christian way as our value comes from God’s knowledge of us. Once we know this in our hearts we need have no fear and can achieve great things for God will never leave us even though we may drift away from time to time.

This verse reminds us of how intimate our relationship with God is.  Some scientific thinking suggests that God does little to intervene with our world, and all is left to the laws of science.

How wrong this is.  Every act of human free will comes from our soul, and is evidence that there is spiritual intervention in our universe and it is not just governed by the deterministic laws of science.  I am sure we will be amazed to see just how intimately God cares for us and our world.

I never considered i had the right to sell sparrows mainly because I do not own them. How strange that God follows the fate of the creatures stolen from him. Forme it begs the question of the exchange rate between sparrows and people.

Last night at Lent Group we studied the story of the Prodigal Son (last Sunday’s Gospel reading).  And now today we have this verse.  It’s incredible that despite all our faults God loves me and every human being so much! And becasue God loves us all this much it means that we should value each person that we meet.  If we all as Christians acted that way all the time (but let’s not underestimate quite what a challenge this is) what a transforming presence we would have in the world - the love of God would really shine through us. So today we all need to take up that challenge - starting small!

... in yesterday’s verse, I think a ‘healthy eye’ is one that sees the needs of others and does something about it.