Put to Shame (Part 1)

It’s not often that I eat out, but this one time in February was especially memorable. I was in the drive-thru of a burger joint with my mom. “Want anything?†she asked. I said no, but when I smelled my mom’s perfect burger, I changed my mind. Thankfully, she was patient and turned around. But the restaurant got my order wrong; they gave me extra buns. I shrugged my shoulders and was prepared to dive into the juicy burger when my mom spotted something that hadn’t been on the drive-thru curb before: a bird.

Immediately, I knew why I had those extra bread buns. God had given them to me to feed the poor bird on that frigid day. It was a literal picture of when Jesus said, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?†(Matthew 6:26). I got to live out that verse!

This encourages me in two ways. First, like Jesus said, if God loved that bird enough to place me at the right spot at the right time with the right resources to feed it, what does that mean He’ll do for me or you? We’re worth more to God than any bird, and we can depend on God to take care of us. He promised, and He meant it!

Second, while we often worry about God providing for us, sometimes we forget that God might be taking care of others through us. God may give us extra that we can use to bless others. Usually, I feel like I’m the one that others bless. But in feeding that bird, I was reminded that God will always make a way to use my resources, whatever they are, to give to others. And what a blessing it is that I get to give! • Lizzie Joy

• One of the primary ways God provides for the needs of His people is through His people. Can you think of a time God cared for you through someone else’s resources?

• What resources or skills do you have that you could use to bless others?

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?†Matthew 6:26 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Ps.51.5|Rom.8.1-Rom.8.4