“He Watches Me”
Matthew 10:29-31
Daviod P. Nolte
Sometimes we have birds in our yard that are not as common as the little black starlings. The other day I saw a red headed woodpecker on our tree; sometimes we see a yellow canary or some variety of finch. Numerous hummingbirds vie for the feeder. An occasional blue jay will show up. Not to overlook the osprey, hawk, heron, buzzard, turkey, dove, pigeon, pheasant and an occasional eagle, There are the common sparrows, too.
This is not about birds – it is about bird watching. Did you know that God is a bird watcher? Well, He is. As the Scripture says, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT2).
We might watch for birds to shoo them away from our gardens; we might watch birds out of interest and curiosity. Some people watch for birds like doves, quail, chukker, pheasant , goose and duck intent upon cooking and eating them..
God watches the sparrow and He watches you and me. As the song well put it,’
“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.”
Why would God give a rip about sparrows, or us? Why does He watch us?
I. HE WATCHES US BECAUSE HE WANTS TO ENJOY US:
A. We are valuable to Him. He is so interested in us that the hairs of our heads are numbered. The question is not “Does God find joy in His children?” He does. The question is , “How do we know He enjoys or rejoices over us?” and a second question is “What is it about us that brings Him joy?”
B. As to how we know that we bring Him joy, God’s word tells us that we do.
1. “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB).
2. “For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5 (NASB).
3. God clearly enjoys His people.
C. As to the second question, “What is it about us that He enjoys?” Maybe you think that there are some sort of strict requirements that you have to meet in order to please God. These things please Him:
1. Faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NASB).
2. Humility. “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” James 4:6 (NASB).
3. Generosity. “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NASB).
4. Endurance. “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” 1 Peter 2:19-20 (NASB).
5. Obedience. Samuel said to King Saul, “ Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 (NASB).
6. Harmony. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NASB).
D. Do you suppose that God doesn’t chuckle at the antics of monkeys and the gamboling of young animals? So, God watches us because He enjoys us. He enjoys us for faith, humility, generosity, endurance, obedience and harmony.
E. I love it when I get pictures and videos of Kaden and Everleigh, our great-grandchildren. It is fascinating watching them grow and experiment and learn. It is a joy watching them come into themselves with their unique personalities, gifts, abilities and achievement. SECOND TO BEING WITH THEM IS BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THEM.
GOD WATCHES US BECAUSE HE ENJOYS US.
II. HE WATCHES US BECAUSE HE WANTS TO ENGAGE US:
A. By that I mean He wants to interact and be occupied with us and us with Him.
1. For instance when we spend time talking to someone we have engaged in conversation. God wants to be engaged in communication through prayer and His Word. He wants to engage our struggles and successes; our gains and our losses..
2. He not only observes the sparrow but He engages them; we read, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (NASB).
B. He is a God who is personally engaged and occupied and involved with His creation.
1. Unlike the godd in Bette Midler’s 1990 hit song entitled, “God is watching us.”
“God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance.”
2. The last phrase expressed a popular theological view. We want a God who provides but does not meddle, who helps us but does interfere; a God who watches us but from a distance and a God who will overlook our sins.
C. He is not contented to stay at a distance! He wants to engage us right where we are:
1. When we are worn to a frazzle: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB).
2. When we are afraid and worried: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. .... Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27 (NASB).
3. When we are guilty of unconfessed sin, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NASB).
4. When we are in sorrow: as He did at the tomb of Lazarus, “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 (NASB).
5. When we need help: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB).
D. Let’s note a contrast:
1. The mythological gods of the Greeks and Romans were far more concerned with their own good, comfort, fulfillment and happiness than that of their worshipers.
2. The God of the Old Testament was seen to be transcendent, remote and demanding, The God revealed by Jesus is a Father to us and loved us so much He gave us His Son. Through His incarnation, God the Father and God the Son engaged us in His plan of salvation.
E. It is for our good that He engages us. Let me illustrate Max Lucado tells the story of his friend Kenny and his family who had just returned from Disney World. It is a story of engagement.
He and his family were inside Cinderella’s castle. It was packed with kids and parents. Suddenly all the children rushed to one side. Cinderella the princess had arrived. She stood waist-deep in a garden of kids, each wanting to touch and be touched.
Kenny turned and looked toward the other side of the castle. It was now vacant except for a boy maybe seven or eight years old. He was dwarfed in height, and his face was misshapen, he stood watching quietly and wistfully, holding the hand of an older brother.
He longed to be in the middle of the kids reaching for Cinderella. But can’t you feel his fear? Fear of being taunted again, mocked again? Cinderella noticed the little boy and immediately began walking in his direction. She slowly inched through the crowd of children. She walked quickly across the floor, knelt at eye level with the stunned little boy, and placed a kiss on his cheek. Where others had avoided him, she engaged him and touched his heart.
GOD WATCHES US TO ENGAGE US.
III. HE WATCHES US TO ENCOURAGE US:
A. “Don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” God values us and does not want us to be fearful or discouraged.
1. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball. We are about to strike out. The Father speaks encouragement to our hearts: “Don’t be afraid to step up to the plate! You can do it; I believe in you; it only takes one pitch to hit a home run!”
2. Sometimes we make one bad choice after another and then turn around and do it again! It doesn’t have to end there! With Paul let us say, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (NASB).
3. It just seems that my life is a series of failures. God encourages us that we can do better. As Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NASB).
4. “Nobody seems to understand me or care about me. He cares, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15 (NASB).
B. In all of our lives He encourages us to greater works and love and faith. In the New Treatment is a man named Barnabas – they called him that because that means “”son of encouragement.” He encouraged the believers to hang in there when it was hardest. Jesus is our Barnabas – whose Barnabas are you?
C. When Keri and John were in sports – from first grade through high school, I was blessed that the elders at Eastside made it easy for me to attend their games. I was the primo. sideline coach. Running along the sidelines of the soccer field, yelling, “Cut him off! Get that ball! Trip him!” Substitute “her” for Keri’s soccer games. I was encouraging them – whether they liked it or not!
D. In the game of life, God encourages us to love one another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens and forgive one another as He has forgiven us!
E. Stuart Brioschi tells a story of something that happened to Howard Hendricks when he was in elementary school. Howard had come from a broken family and was a problem kid. During his first day in fifth grade the teacher said, 'Oh, Howard Hendricks. I've heard a lot about you. I understand you are the worst kid in school.' That year Howard did whatever he could to prove her right.
When the next year rolled around his sixth grade teacher said to him, 'Oh, so you are Howard Hendricks. I've heard you are the worst boy in this school.' Hendricks thought, 'Here we go again.' But then the teacher continued, 'And you know what? I don't believe a word of it.' And Howard said that year that woman did everything she could to help him and encourage him and praise his work; she believed in him. Hendricks credits her with changing his life forever.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leads, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
And so, He has His eye upon each of us just as He does each sparrow. Be happy! You are far more precious to Him than a plethora of sparrows. You were paid for by the blood of Jesus. He has His eye on you – keep your eyes on Him.
