03.04.04

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. - Matthew 10:28-31.

A man in California bought a painting at a garage sale for $5.00 because he like the way it looked. He hung it in his kitchen where it stayed for two years. It stayed there until the 29-year-old actor decided to check out the painting on the Internet. To his great surprise, the painting is the work of Joseph Decker a well-known 19^th Century artist. The National Gallery of Art in Washington purchased the painting for one million dollars!

What is the value of a human soul? Most likely, more than any of us can imagine. I like the way the Message translates Matthew 10:31 saying that we are worth more than a million canaries. I’m not sure how much a canary is worth but they are bought and sold and have financial worth. We are important enough that our Heavenly Father knows how many hairs we have or don’t have on our head. We are important enough that our Heavenly Father has thought about us and has plans for us. In fact, He knew us before we were in the womb of our mother. We are of so much value in His eyes that Jesus had to leave the glories of Heaven taking human form to walk among us, suffer, and die for our sins. Your value, my value is incomprehensible - it is beyond our understanding.

Knowing our own value at least some idea that we are of much value in His eyes - what do we see when we look at those around us? When we see the homeless in this country, do we only see a $5.00 painting when in the eyes of the Father they are priceless? My heart has recently been saddened by learning of the horrible living conditions that some endure across the world. In the Philippines there appear to be frequent situations where those living in almost unbearable conditions have experienced fires which have destroyed their tiny crude homes and few possessions that they have. Now they are in a mud field at the mercy of the elements although some have plastic sheeting and some are trying to provide some meals. That is just one sad horrible situation, which could be multiplied, thousands of times across this world.

What are those people worth living in such unbearable miserable hopeless conditions? They are invaluable in the eyes of the Father. Yes, it is true that we will always have the poor with us as Jesus said. But He also died for them and they are of just as much value to the Father as any other person on this earth.

The next time you encounter someone who seems utterly devoid of value in terms of the thinking of contemporary society remember your Heavenly Father cares for them. Is there something that you can do in the Name of Jesus to help just one person out of the helpless and hopeless millions across this world? No, you can never help them all but, for the one you help it may very well make an eternal difference.