Jump Start # 3914
1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
THROWBACK THURSDAY—here is an article written from the past.
HARIY TOPCIS
A person between the ages of 20-30 has about 615 hair follicles per square centimeter. A person 50 years of age has around 485 hair follicles per square centimeter. People aged 80-90 years have approximately 435 hair follicles per square centimeter. Typically, most people have somewhere between 100,000-150,000 hairs on their head. The average hair loss for an individual is 50-100 hairs per day. We couldn’t tell accurately how many hairs we have right now. We don’t keep count. In fact, unless you are going bald, most of us don’t really care “how many” hairs we have. We are concerned about the color of our hair, the style of our hair and avoiding a “bad hair day.” But God knows.
Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ” But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Mt 10:29-31).
This passage reveals several interesting truths for us.
God knows more about us than we do! That is a humbling thought. We often feel like no one knows our situation. God does. God knows your personality. God knows your strengths. God knows what motivates you. God knows when you stumble. God knows what you like and don’t like. God knows the real you. And not only this, but God knows more about the universe than we do. The Psalmist declared, “He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them” (Ps 147:4). Astronomers confess that they do not know how many stars are in the solar system. God does. Therefore, when God declares something worthwhile, He knows what He is talking about. When God warns about a danger, God knows what He is talking about. When God tells us that we should do something, we need to do it, because He knows us better than we know ourselves.
God is a God of detail. How insignificant we would think sparrows and hairs are. Yet God is aware of them. We can be sloppy and neglect the details while just trying to fulfill the “big” things. God is a God of details. The motives, attitudes and heart behind our actions are as important as the actions themselves. It does little good to give, if you have left out the detail of being a cheerful giver. Singing fails if we neglect thankfulness in our heart and voice. Let us be a people of details, as God is.
God cares about you. This is why Jesus referred to sparrows and hair. We are of value to God. Christ was not sent to save the whales, the environment, the endangered species but mankind. We are valuable to God. Stress and worry make us wonder if God cares. We sometimes doubt. We question. Jesus’ words reminds us, God cares!
Next time you comb your hair, give this some thought. God knows. God loves. God cares.
Roger
October, 2007