Matt10.24-39 Thoroughly Known and Loved
I have to confess something. I'm not very good at identifying different birds.
People can tell me, "Look! A currawong!" or "There's a butcherbird!" and I just think, "Yep ... that's definitely a bird." A lot of birds look pretty much the same to me.
But there are some birds I know really well. I've got seven chooks, and I know every one of them.
This is Chatty. She's talks all the time and she plays with my dogs.
This is Grumpy. She always looks cranky - and sometimes she bosses the other chooks around.
This is Red Leader and Red Two - because one follows the other around - and I’m a Star Wars fan.
This is Freckles - for obvious reasons.
And then there’s the babies, Spicks and Specks. They’re not so small anymore but they still like to be picked up and cuddled.
To most people, they might just look like seven chickens. But not to me.
I know their names.
I know their personalities.
I know who gets picked on.
I know who needs extra food.
I know who likes to escape through the gate.
Every day I feed them, give them water, check they're safe. Because I care about them, I pay attention and I know them very well.
And Jesus says God is a bit like that. He says that even tiny sparrows matter to God.
Most people hardly notice sparrows. They're small and ordinary. But God notices every single one.
And even more incredible, God knows even the number of hairs on your head.
In other words, God knows me and you even better than I know my chickens.
God knows your name.
God knows what makes you laugh.
God knows what worries you.
God knows when you're happy.
God knows when you're sad.
God knows you, and God loves you just as you are.
So whenever you're worried about whether you are important enough,
or good enough for God to notice,
remember God already knows you and thoroughly loves you.
You matter to God. You are never forgotten.
Loving God,
We are glad that you know each of us by name,
care for us every day, and never forget us.
Help us to know and love each other as thoroughly as you show us. Amen.