Today I Tried to Feed a Sparrow

Today I Tried to Feed a Sparrow

How a Simple Gesture Became a Window into the Heart of Grace

This morning was quiet. The sky wore that gentle, early light before the sun fully commits to the day, and I found myself sitting near the window, a slice of apple in hand. The birds were busy—darting, chirping, and fluttering through the air like musical notes carried on a soft breeze. A small sparrow landed nearby, tilting its head with curiosity. Moved by a gentle impulse, I broke a piece of the apple and laid it out near the sparrow.

To my surprise, the bird hopped around but didn’t touch it.

It was good apple. Sweet, ripe, nourishing. That tiny bit of fruit—what was hardly anything for me to give—could have been enough for the bird and its family for multiple days. And yet, it wouldn’t receive it. Maybe it didn’t recognize it as food. Maybe it feared a trap. Maybe it simply didn’t know how to receive a gift.

I sat back, and a stillness filled my spirit.
“Isn’t this exactly what we do with Jesus?”
How often does He offer me something—peace, joy, wisdom, direction, or comfort—freely, generously, and I, like that sparrow, turn away?

The Gift We Refuse

This moment stirred a deeper question within me: How many times have I refused the hand of grace that reached out to feed me? How often have I been too distracted, too skeptical, or too self-reliant to accept something freely offered by God?

In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

Jesus wanted to gather them—protect them, feed them, cover them—but they would not come. Not because they weren’t loved. Not because there was no provision. Simply because they refused the offer.

Just like that little bird.

I think about the things I pray for—guidance, patience, hope. How often do I ignore the answer because it doesn’t come the way I expected? Or because I didn’t recognize it as the nourishment my soul needed?

A Small Gift, A Great Impact

That sliver of apple wasn’t a sacrifice. I had more. Much more. It was an effortless offering that could have made a great difference to the sparrow. And yet, it was rejected.

This is a picture of grace. What is easy for God to give—what cost Him His Son to make available—is offered freely to me. A small act of surrender or obedience on my part can unlock blessings that ripple through generations.

In Romans 8:32, Paul reminds us:

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

God isn’t stingy with His gifts. The problem is not with His generosity, but with our receptivity. Like the sparrow, we can be blind to the goodness in front of us, or too wary to receive it.

And maybe it’s not always selfishness or rebellion. Sometimes it's fear. Or unworthiness. Or disbelief.

The Cost of Refusing

Every time I refuse what Jesus offers—His peace (John 14:27), His truth (John 8:32), His rest (Matthew 11:28)—I’m not just limiting my own spiritual life. I’m affecting the people around me too.

I can’t pass on peace I haven’t received. I can’t offer forgiveness if I’m still clinging to bitterness. I can’t live in joy if I’ve closed myself off from the joy of the Lord.

When Jesus invites us to receive, it’s never just about us. It’s about the community He’s placed us in. It’s about how His kingdom comes to earth—through transforming people living from the gifts they’ve accepted.

Fruit of the Spirit: What It Looks Like When We Receive

The Bible speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit—not the effort of the Spirit-filled, but the fruit. Fruit is something that grows naturally when the tree is healthy, planted, watered, and exposed to light.

In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul writes:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

When we receive from Jesus—His grace, His Spirit, His Word—these fruits begin to grow in us. But how do we know if this fruit is really present in our lives?

Three Ways to Identify the Fruit of the Spirit

1. The Fruit Shows in Relationships

You can tell what kind of tree it is by the fruit it bears. Similarly, the Spirit’s work in us will show up most clearly in how we treat others.

Are we quick to forgive?
Do people feel safe, loved, and seen in our presence?
Do we bring calm into chaos or stir the pot?

Jesus said in John 13:35:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Love isn’t a theory. It’s how we interact with people on hard days, in long lineups, and under pressure. It’s proof that we’ve received something from Jesus and are now passing it on.

2. The Fruit is Evident in the Face of Pressure

It’s easy to seem loving, kind, and gentle when life is good. But the fruit that lasts is visible when storms come.

James 1:2-4 reminds us:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance…”

True joy doesn’t vanish in adversity. Real peace isn’t destroyed by uncertainty. The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t wither in heat—it ripens.

We see the fruit most clearly under pressure.

3. The Fruit Always Points to the Source

The Holy Spirit’s fruit never puts the spotlight on us—it reflects the nature of Jesus. We don’t grow this fruit on our own. We abide in Christ, and He grows it in us.

Jesus said in John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

So if my life is bearing the kind of fruit that blesses others, uplifts the broken, and brings light into darkness—it’s a sign I’ve been receiving from the Vine.

The Invitation of Jesus

Every day, Jesus extends His hand. Sometimes through Scripture. Sometimes through people. Sometimes through moments as small and tender as a piece of apple and a sparrow.

His invitation is the same: “Come to me.”

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)

The gifts are ready. The nourishment is near. The feast is prepared.

And yet, how many times do I hop around the edges, cautious, suspicious, unsure?

A Simple Prayer

So today, I pray a different kind of prayer:

Lord, help me to recognize Your gifts—even when they look unfamiliar. Help me not to refuse what is freely given. Help me not to be like the sparrow who turns away from food that would sustain their whole household. Instead, make me open. Receptive. Hungry. Humble. Willing to receive, and quick to give. Let me bear fruit that brings life to others, not because I earned it, but because I took what You offered me freely. Thank You for being so generous. Teach me to be the same.

Final Reflection

That little sparrow reminded me of something big: sometimes, the most profound spiritual truths aren’t found in books or sermons, but in moments we almost miss. God is always speaking—through nature, through people, and through His Spirit.

May we learn to receive what’s freely given.
May we abide in the Vine.
And may our lives—like branches heavy with fruit—bless the world around us.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” – Psalm 34:8

Sunday, 13 April 2025