Let  us  look  at  a  familiar  illustration  used
by  our  Master  of  God's  minute  care  for  those
who  fully  trust  and  follow  Him.  One  able
man  has  called  what  I  am  referring  to  '  the
doctrine  of  the  odd  sparrow  '.  Matthew  records
how,  on  one  occasion,  Jesus  said,  '  Are  not
two  sparrows  sold  for  a  farthing?  and  one  of
them  shall  not  fall  to  the  ground  without  your
Father'.  But,  turning  to  Luke,  we  find  a
slight  variation  in  what  Jesus  said,  '  Are  not
five  sparrows  sold  for  two  farthings,  and  not
jone  of  them  is  forgotten  before  God  '.  Now,
do  you  see  the  point  of  Luke's  putting  of  it?


WORRY  VERSUS  PEACE  165

It  is  as  if  the  dealer  had  said  to  the  buyer,
1  Look  here,  you  want  a  farthing's  worth  of
sparrows.  Well,  you  can  have  two;  but,  if
you  will  buy  two  farthingsworth,  I  will  throw
the  odd  one  in  for  nothing  ' .  Two  for  a  far-
thing; five  for  a  halfpenny.
But  see;  of  that  odd  sparrow  thrown  in  as
hardly  worth  counting,  Jesus  said,  *  Not  one
of  them  is  forgotten  before  God.  Not  one
shall  fall  to  the  ground  without  your  Father.
Are  ye  not  of  more  value  than  many  spar-
rows?' Now,  in  the  light  of  that  illustration,
turn  once  more  to  the  Apostolic  message,
'  Be  careful  for  nothing  ',  and  I  think  you  will
find  good  reason  for  believing  the  promise,
*  The  peace  of  God  shall  keep  your  hearts
through  Jesus  Christ '.
