“YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM”
— Matthew 6:26
Where I live, I regularly see bald eagles, Canadian geese, and magpies. I watch them soar, glide and flit through the air. The eagles sometimes circle for hours scouring the land for their next meal.
On the surface, birds look like they feed themselves, but when Jesus saw birds he saw beyond them to a Father who feeds each one. Birds might hunt and gather, but the true source of their provision is this: your heavenly Father feeds them.
Notice that birds aren’t fed by their father, but by your Father. Behind all the provision you’ve ever experienced in your life is an invisible heavenly Father. Every good gift, that was him. The seasons of vulnerability you walked through, he was there. All your successes and triumphs, it was all grace.
I realize it looks and feels like you are the one who has to make ends meet. Somewhere along the way you heard that it was your job to provide, ‘so get out there and get after it.’ But that’s earth’s outlook. Jesus opens our eyes to see beyond the birds, to understand provision from heaven’s perspective.
If you could see your story from heaven’s perspective, God would be on every page. You’d see him behind every provision. Every meal and morsel. Every paycheck and promotion. Every open door and opportunity. All along it’s been your heavenly Father who feeds you. Your whole story has been filled with grace.
God may have blessed you with intelligence, diligence and the ability to take risks, but all your efforts, like mine, only add up to five loaves and two fish. Jesus is the multiplier. He makes things grow.
Trusting God with money is one of the slowest things for a Christian to learn, but it’s also the linchpin to a life of freedom and fruitfulness. When this domino of discipleship falls many others fall with it.
According to Jesus, the key is knowing your heavenly Father. Our sin separates us from him, but Jesus died on the cross to reconcile us to our Father. Even now, Jesus is seated in heaven at his Father’s right hand. The way is open. The price is paid. You can call upon God as your Father.
In his eyes you are not an orphan left to struggle and scrap for your next meal. You are a son or daughter of the King of heaven and earth and he not only provides for his birds, but his kids as well.
Father in heaven, we want to know you better as our Father. Please open our eyes to see that you have always been and will always be our generous Father. Free us to live like your children and seek first your kingdom. In Jesus’ name.
© John Rinehart 2025
