More Important Than Many Sparrows

I just came inside from our patio area. I woke up this morning, made the coffee and grabbed my sermon. I went outside and sat on my favorite patio chair with coffee in hand. It was already 65 degrees out there this morning...very comfortable. It's supposed to be 110 today. This is one of my favorite times. What a great setting for "going through" my sermon text for Sunday morning.

My little friends were also out there this morning. Who are they? The finches. We have a feeder 20 feet from where I study. One day one of them flew into our sliding glass door. There he was, laying on his side, motionless. After waiting a couple of minutes, I went over to him, and picked him up in my hands. All of a sudden he awoke and flew off. They're learning to trust me. After all, I'm the one who feeds them, leads them beside still waters, our back yard fountain. In these difficult, hot days, these little guys need water. You can see where I'm going with this analogy.

If our future days should get hot, tough out there, we can trust Him.

Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

For our name's sake? No, for His.

Heirs of Salvation

In our Bible study Thursday morning, I saw something in the following passage I had not seen before. The Scripture is a never ending well of wonder.

Gal 4:1-5
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,
2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. NASU

Paul uses the human example of children who are heirs of all the fathers wealth, even though they, as children, are no better than a slave. Paul then compares this spiritually to believers, who, prior to the Spirit entering their hearts, while they are also held in slavery to the elemental things of this world, are, none the less, heirs. Paul states this in the very next verse.

Gal 4:6-7
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
NASU

Paul calls them sons prior to the Holy Spirit entering their lives. Because they are heirs, God sent forth the Spirit into their hearts.

We see this same truth in Hebrews 1:14. Speaking of angels, the writer says:

Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? KJV

Somehow the angels know who the heirs of salvation are prior to them becoming saved. They will protect them, minister to them. God will not lose any of His chosen. This truth is also seen in 2 Peter 3:9. He won't come until all the heirs are saved. None that the Father gives to the Son will perish. He's not willing that any of these heirs perish.