The Father who Knows the Sparrows

Jun 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When "Uh-Huh" Becomes a Denial

The ache of neglect cuts deeper than outright rejection. We deny Christ not only through defiant words but through distracted living—skipping opportunities to love, prioritizing lesser things, letting busyness drown out His voice. Just as spouses crave undivided attention, our Heavenly Father longs for more than rushed prayers in emergencies. He wants our ordinary moments, our lingering gaze. [00:55]

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, CSB)

Reflection: Where have you muttered “uh-huh” to God while your heart was elsewhere? What mundane moment this week could become an act of undivided attention to Him?

Day 2: Shaving Cuts and the Father-Shaped Void

A sideways razor slash reveals more than clumsy technique—it exposes the universal ache for guidance only a father can give. Whether earthly fathers were present or absent, gentle or distant, every human heart knows this void. Our scraped knees, unanswered questions, and silent dinners point to the Father who never withholds His nearness. [05:15]

Though my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take care of me. (Psalm 27:10, CSB)

Reflection: What specific childhood longing (like learning to shave, ride a bike, or navigate heartbreak) still whispers your need for the Father’s patient instruction?

Day 3: Cussing at God in the Choir Loft

Jeremiah’s raw prayer—“You deceived me!”—mirrors our secret rage when faith costs more than we signed up for. True children don’t sanitize their pain before a perfect Father. Like the prophet, we can scream into the storm while still clinging to the truth: “The Lord is with me like a dread warrior.” [06:24]

Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived. You overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. (Jeremiah 20:7-8, CSB)

Reflection: What unpolished complaint have you buried under “spiritual” language? How might voicing it honestly—like Jeremiah—deepen your trust?

Day 4: The Fine Print of Following

Jesus never hid the cost: family fractures, ridicule, losing control of our reputation. He published the “fine print” upfront (Matthew 10:21-22), not as a threat but as an invitation. Only those warned about the storm can fully appreciate the Anchor. [14:09]

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name.” (Matthew 10:21-22, CSB)

Reflection: Where does following Jesus currently cost you comfort or relationships? How does His upfront honesty about suffering strengthen your resolve?

Day 5: Sparrow Math and the Father’s Gaze

Two sparrows sold for a penny—yet not one falls without the Father’s notice. His attention isn’t divided by the world’s chaos or our failures. Every graying hair, every silent tear, every stubbed toe matters. To be His child is to live unignored. [18:16]

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31, CSB)

Reflection: What specific worry or shame makes you feel invisible to God? How would living “unignored” change your next 24 hours?

Sermon Summary

Denial shows up as neglect. The call to discipleship presses on distracted hearts that pray and say creed but skip the chance to love. The ache for attention that every child feels exposes what the Father wants too: undivided attention, not just in crisis, not just when the monitor beeps in a hospital room, but in ordinary days.

Fatherhood’s gaps and gifts both point somewhere. The longing for a steady father, and the sting when one is distant or complicated, push toward the One Father who gets fatherhood right. Human stories run warm or bruised, but the ache aims at a Father whose eyes never look away.

Jeremiah voices holy honesty. “O Lord, you have deceived me… I am ridiculed all day long,” but in the same breath, “the Lord is with me like a dread warrior. Sing to the Lord.” Complaint and praise sit in the same mouth because covenant love holds. Pain isn’t denied; identity is remembered.

Repentance grows teeth when it moves from the closet to the living room. It sounds like, “I’m sorry,” to a neighbor or to a child. That move takes integrity, courage, and the Spirit. Excuses shrink when the one in front is the Father, not the self.

Mission is not outsourced. The Father who came and got the lost now says, go get them. The priesthood of all believers means every baptized one is an ambassador. Staying home with perfect livestreams does not gather the wandering; love walks.

Jesus does not hide the fine print. He sends the Twelve with open eyes: households may divide, hatred may follow his name, and the worst enemy in the mirror still lurks. Yet he stitches warning to care: two sparrows sell for a penny, and not one falls apart from the Father. Hairs are counted. Value is settled.

Prayer leans into specific trust. Abraham’s servant asked and watched God thread the details. Request becomes dependence, not control. The cost of following is real, but the Father’s attention is nearer than fear.

The cross, not the past, writes identity. The wages of sin are earned; the gift in Christ is received. The resurrection says, “you are his.” Arms up daily like children at the door, the loved live sent, forgiven, and listened for by the Father who says, “I am pleased with you.”

Key Takeaways

1. Neglect can quietly deny Jesus. Confession and creeds can sit beside a life that keeps skipping love’s opportunities. Attention is the currency of devotion, and distraction can be a slow no. The Father is not hunting drama; he is seeking undivided attention in ordinary time. Learning to notice and respond is how allegiance gets real. [00:33]
2. Repentance grows when spoken aloud. Private confession is safe; public apology risks pride, but it heals relationships and re-teaches the heart to tell the truth. Saying “I’m sorry” to a child can be a Spirit-made doorway to freedom. Integrity shows when the self steps down and love steps forward. [07:54]
3. Mission rests on every believer. The Father who came and got the lost now sends his children to go get them. The priesthood of all believers means no one is benched; love is mobile and vocal. The church’s lack is not ability but availability. [10:20]
4. Jesus names the cost and care. He does not skip the fine print about division and hatred, yet he anchors courage in the Father’s exacting attention to sparrows and hairs. Real discipleship costs, but it never outpaces the Father’s keeping. Fear fades where worth is settled. [14:09]
5. The cross defines, not history. Failures and missed years do not get the last word; the crucified and risen Christ does. Identity is received, not achieved, so the future opens where shame used to close. Living as a loved child becomes the first work and the fuel for the rest. [26:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Denying Jesus by neglect
[01:09] - The Father wants undivided attention
[02:11] - Father’s Day and the ache for dad
[05:40] - Longing that points to the true Father
[06:24] - Jeremiah’s lament and praise
[07:54] - Repentance that moves toward others
[09:49] - He came and got the lost
[10:20] - Priesthood of all believers
[12:46] - Jesus warns before he sends
[14:09] - Family division and hatred for his name
[16:59] - The cost of following Jesus
[18:16] - Sparrows, hairs, and the Father’s care
[21:19] - Enjoying the Father today in prayer
[26:59] - The cross, not the past, defines
[29:15] - Sent as loved children of God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Jeremiah 20:7-13 (CSB)
You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived. You seized me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all the time; everyone ridicules me… But the Lord is with me like a violent warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and not prevail… Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Matthew 10:16-42 (CSB)
“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves… Don’t fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul… Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent…

Observation questions

In Jeremiah 20:7-13, how does Jeremiah’s tone shift between complaint and praise? What does this reveal about his relationship with God?
According to Matthew 10:28-31, how does Jesus connect the Father’s care for sparrows to His care for His followers?
What specific warnings does Jesus give to the disciples in Matthew 10:16-25 about the cost of following Him? [14:09]
The sermon mentions that “denial shows up as neglect.” What examples of neglect were given in the sermon? [00:33]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jeremiah’s prayer includes both raw frustration and unwavering trust in God’s protection? How does this reflect the tension many believers experience?
Jesus says, “You are more valuable than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). How does this statement address the fears He warns about earlier in the passage?
The sermon states, “Repentance grows teeth when it moves from the closet to the living room.” Why might repentance lose its power if kept private? [07:54]
How does the idea that “mission rests on every believer” challenge common assumptions about who is responsible for sharing faith? [10:20]

Application questions

Where have you unintentionally neglected opportunities to love others or prioritize God’s presence in “ordinary days” (e.g., distraction, busyness)? What small step could help you notice these moments this week? [00:33]
When was the last time you apologized to someone specific (e.g., a child, spouse, or friend)? How might practicing spoken repentance deepen your relationships and faith? [07:54]
Jesus warns that following Him may lead to division. Is there a relationship in your life where loyalty to Christ has caused tension? How can you lean into the Father’s care in that situation? [14:09]
The sermon says, “The church’s lack is not ability but availability.” What excuses have kept you from seeing yourself as an “ambassador” in daily conversations or actions? [10:20]
How would your daily choices change if you truly believed God counts your hairs and values you more than sparrows? What fear or insecurity might that truth dismantle?
The cross—not your past—defines your identity. What old story or failure do you need to stop rehearsing? How can you actively “receive” your identity as a loved child today? [26:59]
What specific, ordinary moment this week (e.g., washing dishes, commuting, texting a friend) could become a time to practice “undivided attention” to God’s presence? [01:09]

Sermon Clips

59s

#LovedChildOfGod

“He's not asking you for interest. He's only asking you, listen to me, my son, my daughter. It's the holy spirit that wants to tell you today, I still love you. I hope that as you go from this place, you know that our heavenly father will never fail us, will never forsake us, and he is with us always. While our early fathers would try to get their attention and to tell us, well, good job, my boy, my boy. Your heavenly father says, well done. I am pleased with you. So I'll go from this place that you are a loved child of god.”

44s

#ForgivenAndFree

“if we are honest, we should have our up arms open each day, every single minute because he's right there with you. So be aware that he has forgiven you. The cross already settled your account. He has forgiven you. It's a gift. It's a moment where you know that you don't do anything. Your failures are there. Your victories are because of that. Your future is because of this. And Jesus says, I got this. It's paid off.”

42s

#IdentityInChrist

“Brothers and sisters in Christ, remember this, that your past does not define who you are. The only thing in the past that will define who you are is the cross. The resurrection tells you you are his. And with that confidence, we can live each day assured that he will take us home one day. And as children as his children, we will rejoice in the genuine father who loves us this much.”

51s

#CourageToConfess

“One of the things that humans have is that we have a hard time asking for forgiveness. Yes. It's easy for you to go in your closet and say, forgive me, lord, and that's all I need to do. That's easy. First of all, you know he's gonna forgive you. Number two is you know he's gonna be gentle with you. And number three, and most important, is nobody else will know. The challenge is when you go repent and tell your neighbor, I'm sorry. The the the challenge is when you go tell your child, I'm sorry.”

44s

#GodKnowsYourWorth

“Yet none of them will fall to the ground apart from your father. That means he knows everything. You are more valuable than a sparrow. You know, for some of us, when Jesus says that he he has your hair's number, I think he will have a good time with this one for now. But for some are less. And there's a time that he's he's counting more numbers, more hairs here than than here for me or my ears as you get older. But Jesus knows your needs, that you are more valuable than a sparrow.”

48s

#RememberJesusSacrifice

“But when you start looking at the hands of Jesus, the side of Jesus, the feet of Jesus, and the blood that was there, that's why I like to have those picture, not because I wanna worship a picture, but I wanted to have a a clear perspective of who Jesus is. Because I tend to forget. I tend to forget even do during this World Cup, you know, soccer World Cup. I get more busy watching the games in in the middle of the night than staying with Jesus. And then when things happens, I'm I'm oh, what happened? Why? Well, of course, this is what happened. This will cost us. Following Jesus is not easy.”

42s

#StrengthInGodPresence

“Jeremiah was worn down by the role he didn't sign up to do. And yet in the very same breath that he mentions all this, hello, lord, how, you know, you have ridiculed me, in the same, without taking a breath in, he says this, the lord is with me like a dread warrior. Sing to the lord. Praise to the lord. And the miss you see the mixing it, the law and the gospel? That he had that relationship with god. He said, you know what? Okay. Come on, man.”

42s

#ActionsOverWords

“Scary moment because how do we deny Jesus? Sometimes we think denying is is not saying decree. That's not denying. You can say decree and still deny Jesus. You you can pray and you still deny Jesus. Sometimes our actions speak louder than words. When we skip things for for doing things not other than following Jesus and and having the opportunity to demonstrate the love of god to people, that's when we not denying, but neglecting. As as children, there is one thing that we don't want. We don't wanna be neglected.”

49s

#StayAnchoredInScripture

“When you get home, look at the mirror. We are our worst enemies. And god says, no. No. Look at me. My mighty hand, I am your father. Jesus doesn't keep quiet. He doesn't see your quota. He knows the struggles we and they face. He knows. We need to learn the fine print. We need to understand what Jesus is saying, and that's what is so crucial that all of us will stay in the word. So when things hit us, they you will know and you will you have confidence that god is with you.”

41s

#HopeAndHealingInGod

“So whether you are a father carrying regret over missed years or a son or daughter still aching for a dad who wasn't there, or maybe you were, while you were a child that you never experienced a father or someone who's still learning what loving someone well well looks like. Hear this. It is not on you to learn to look back and look with disgrace, but look with hope for the future, the one who holds all things together by his mighty hand.”

52s

#HeavenlyFatherAlways

“Jesus isn't promising something in in early matter. He's promising you an eternal father, a heavenly father. He's not pointing out to us. He's pointing out to the the father who knows better than anyone else. He he's pointing past our few human fatherhood, our present or absent or gentle or distant father, to the father who never once look away from from you, the one who is called our heavenly father. Not even one here escapes from him. What does that mean to you?”

51s

#ExperienceHeavenlyFather

“It's so good to hear that I have a heavenly father when I never met my my dad. It's good to hear that all the struggles that I have on this earth are nothing compared to when when I see my heavenly father embracing me, hugging me. And I don't have to wait for there in the future. I can enjoy my father today in prayer, in dependence on him. As fathers, all three of us, and I I think there there there is a longing that our children will come to us. Father, I have this decision to make. Can you help me out?”

47s

#SignUpForJesus

“Hey. It's kinda Jesus saying, are you gonna are you ready to sign up for this army? This is not just in case. He says it will happen. It might not be in those ways, but how many of us have our children really nailed us or killed us with his their words? How how many of our children have raised up and stood up against us? And they still will do it if they have the change. It's happening. And and you know which one is your worst enemy? When you get home, look at the mirror.”

46s

#DontSkipTheFinePrint

“Helping people come to know Jesus and follow him. They kinda skip out. They they speed up the what they're saying there in the fine print. Jesus doesn't do that. He doesn't skip the fine print. He points hey. Let me tell you what it says in here. And it's tough what it says in here. It says, brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father, his child, and the children will raise against their parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake.”

42s

#LoveShowsThroughUs

“Then the love is showing off. The love that you have inside is showing off in very plain and clear fruit that the spirit is living in you. Sing to the lord. Praise to the lord. He doesn't pretend that pain isn't real. He simply remembers whose child he is. And that's what we need to remember all of us. That's for everyone in in here. For for a child, for an older, for a single, for what whatever whoever you are, Jesus speaks into the same tension for us.”

48s

#ListenToHeaven

“What does that mean to you? While we try to get the attention from among heavenly fathers, our heavenly father is trying to get our attention in so many ways. We just need to listen to him. This is him that says, listen. Listen. God is calling where his word abounding. He's he's telling us. He's getting our attention whether your story has been a story that that you were not good a father or or you were an excellent father. Whatever story you have, the story is not over because the real father will show up someday.”

46s

#UndividedAttentionToGod

“And and and let me ask you. Do you think that your father in heaven would like to have your antibody attention to? how many hours, how many days out of the week he's still not getting your attention? It only comes when there is something that hurts. Oh, lord Jesus, have mercy. Or when we I'm getting old. Or when the doctor says we need to talk. Or or when we're in the hospital and you hear the only background noise is toot toot. A machine rolling in for you.”

41s

#UndividedAttentionMatters

“We don't wanna be neglected by our parents. We don't wanna be neglected by us our spouses. We don't I mean, how many times are we talking to our spouses and they are, uh-huh. Uh-huh. Oh, are you talking to me? I mean, the neglection, nobody likes. We always wanna have the attention. We always wanna have that undivided attention. Let me ask you. How many of you like to have that undivided attention? All of us. Right?”

61s

#ApologizeWithCourage

“The the the challenge is when you go tell your child, I'm sorry. That's not easy, isn't it? It's hard to go tell you your your child, I'm sorry for being a bad father. It takes integrity. It takes courage. It takes wisdom. It takes the holy spirit to do that. Because how many of us have asked our children forgiveness? We are too good for that. See, the the prophet comes to god and says, hey. You have ridiculed me. And that's not the the only complaint the prophet has because that's the complaint we all have to we have been ridiculed.”

48s

#HonestWithGod

“says in there, all these things to describe how he felt, but when I was reading Jeremiah in that chapter, I was realizing this is me. This is me. I can talk to god all. I can yell at him in my private, But in here, oh, heavenly father. Oh, gracious lord. But in my in my privacy, you have ridiculed me, man. What's up with this? Why don't you bring people to the church? And you know what he says? You want people in the church? Go get him. He has a very funny way to deal with this.”

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St. Paul Lutheran Church Harlingen, Texas This sermon · AI assistant

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