The Truth is Light
By The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Senior Columnist
Based on Biblical Text: Matthew 10:31 (NRSV): “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
We are reminded constantly about grace—God’s unmerited favor. Grace comes from God, through Jesus Christ, and we need grace in order to inherit eternal life. However, we seldom talk about God’s careful attention to every detail of our lives through his grace. God’s grace is everywhere. It is impossible to miss, reject, or even hide from grace. As God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient [for everything]!” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NRSV) God cares about every detail of our life and covers our lives with his grace.
We can be sure that God really cares! He numbers our hairs. Jesus says, “And even the hairs of your head are all counted.” (Matthew 10:30 NRSV) If God cares that much about our body, how much more must he care about our soul. There is nothing about our physical being that God is not keenly aware of.
God counts our steps. Job asked, “Does [God] not see my ways, and number all my steps?” (Job 31:4 NRSV) God knows every step we take, and he knows where those steps take us. God knows when we break his laws, but he also knows when we stay on the straight and narrow path!
God books our thoughts. Malachi 3:16 (NRSV) says, “Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name.” We cannot hide a single thought from God! We are admonished that God knows the thoughts that come from our carnal mind but, he also knows our thoughts that come from our heart. God knows the conflict raging inside us. Thus, his solution: “Think upon his name.”
God bottles our tears. David wrote, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.” (Psalm 56:8 NRSV) God knows every tear we shed and counts every tear precious. God knows when we are in pain, frightened, or disappointed. He sees our sorrow, and he harvests our tears and mixes them with the ones Jesus shed. Yes, Jesus wept!
God takes our hands. When Israel feared that God had abandoned them, God told Isaiah to tell them, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NRSV) There is never a time when God withdraws his hand of protection from those who belong to him. There is no enemy he cannot conquer. When God takes our hand, we are completely outfitted with the armor of God, thoroughly filled with the spirit of God, and properly anointed with the power of God. In other words, when God takes our hand, “No weapon that is fashioned against [us] shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17 NRSV)
Finally, God supplies our needs. When Paul wrote to the struggling church in Philippi, he said, “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NRSV) What more assurance do we need that God really cares? If we trust Him, no worry will weaken us, no trial will destroy us, and no challenge will frighten us.
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of James Chapel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
