In
the devotional Then Sings My Soul Robert Morgan conjectures, “Long ago,
there was a woodworker in Nazareth who counted bird-watching among his
diversions. We can make that assumption, because Jesus referred frequently to
bird-life in his sermons…”
Civilla Martin and her husband, Walter were
what I refer to as a “ministry team.” He was an evangelist. She a hymn writer.
This wonderful couple met and befriended an infirmed husband and wife with the
surname, Doolittle, in 1905. In spite of their afflictions, the Doolittle’s did
much; (a play on words don’t you know.) They always seemed cheerful, and were a
constant encouragement to their friends.
One day Rev. Martin asked them for the
secret of their happiness. Mrs. Doolittle’s response was contagious… “His eye
is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.” That poignant experience set the
stage for the famous hymn, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”
“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.”
“Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds
arise,
When song gives place to sighing, When
hope within me dies,
I draw me closer to Him, From care He
sets me free,
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know
He watches me.”
I think that as long as our focus remains
on the horizontal, we are apt to be discouraged. But when we “lift our eyes
unto the hills,” all that immediately changes. Our vision must be vertical.
There’s a wonderful verse that exhorts us
to “…day by day, and as long as today shall last, continue to encourage one
another.” (Hebrews 3:13, LB)
It
is no false encouragement we offer. His eye is on the sparrow.
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