The depth of God’s love is not totally understood by most. The average person would try and measure it in gold of silver. God’s love cannot be measured in this way. Jesus spoke of the subject in a way that may seem strange to some because He used something insignificant to tell of God’s love. He used sparrows as an illustration of God’s love. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:28—31). In modern times this really seems peculiar, for most never even pay attention to the sparrows.
In the time that Jesus said these words sparrows (the term sparrow was used generically of many small birds) were used in commerce. These small birds were eaten as a small morsel of food. Several of them would be plucked and place on a skewer then roasted over a fire and eaten like kabobs. Notice the passage from Matthew again; two sparrows were sold for a penny. Luke records that five sparrows were sold for two pennies (Luke 12:6). This meant that the buyer received the fifth sparrow for free because one sparrow had no value. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God knows about a thing such as a small bird? Surely He knows about man.
Imagine, even with all the things going on in the world at any given time, God knows when one sparrow, however worthless in man’s eye, falls to the ground. Have you ever tried to count the number of birds you see in a day’s time? In the fall of the year many times the skies are full of sparrows. Yet God cares for each one of them.
If God cares that much for one of His creatures, how much more does He care for man? In the eyes of some it takes power, money, or prestige to be important. In God’s eyes everyone is important no matter what station they hold in life or how little or big their bank account may be. Each person is important to God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God wants all men to be saved, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2: 3--6).
God has made it possible for all men to be saved. He sent His Son to give Himself as the ransom for man’s sins. He has given us His word so that we can know what is expected of us. Some fail to read and study for themselves and only listen to what others tell them. Jesus Himself implored those of His day to, “search the scriptures… and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39). Knowing that the Bible comes from God (2 Tim. 3:16,17) should make us curious enough to read it for ourselves. God wants us to believe on Jesus as His Son (John 8:24), to repent of our sins (Luke 13:3), be willing to confess the name of Jesus before men (Matt. 10:32, 33), and then be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38).
Study the Bible and come to know of the love of God