Oct 07 – Look! Look!

“Look at the birds of the air.” (Matthew 6:26)

Look! Look! Pay close attention! The Lord lovingly calls us to observe and learn.

There is a great difference between simply looking at something and looking at it carefully and attentively. When we look only superficially, we may fail to notice many details and hidden truths. But when we observe carefully and examine closely, we are able to discover many important truths.

The Lord specifically calls our attention to three things:

• Look at the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26).
• Consider carefully how the lilies of the field grow (Matthew 6:28).
• Consider Christ Jesus (Hebrews 3:1).

A believer was once deeply troubled because he had not been able to pay his house rent for four months. As he was walking along, he noticed a dead crow lying in a garbage bin, with several other crows gathered around it and cawing.

When he looked closely at the dead crow, he noticed that its beak was open. As he examined it further, he discovered a gold ring lodged inside its mouth. He took the ring, sold it, and used the money to clear his outstanding rent. He was then able to continue living in peace.

The crows are still flying around us today, continually reminding us that the God of Elijah is still alive! The crow has not changed. We are the ones who have failed to look carefully at the crows. The Lord who used ravens to provide for Elijah has not changed. Jesus says: “Consider the ravens…; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” (Luke 12:24)

Once, a godly man was travelling through an area that had been devastated by a forest fire. There he saw the charred body of a hen lying dead, and beneath her wings he discovered many living chicks. When the fire had spread through the forest, the hen had covered her chicks with her wings and remained there to protect them. If she had wanted to save herself, she could have run away or flown to safety. But because of her love for her little ones, she sacrificed her own life to protect them.

When Jesus looked upon Jerusalem, He wept and said that He had longed to gather her children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37). What a picture of the heart of Christ!

Children of God, how greatly the Lord has spread His wings over you to protect you! How deeply He loves you and how tenderly His heart is moved toward you! Come under the shelter of the Most High. Take refuge under the shadow of the Almighty. Do not wander outside the place of His protection.

Verse for further meditation: “He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler” (Psalm 91:4)