Welcome to this Tuesday edition of the Our Daily Bread Devotional.

I'm Alyssa Morgan, and I want to encourage you with this meditation I wrote titled, Our Father's Care.

Thack! I looked up and craned my ear toward the sound.

Spotting a smudge on the window pane, I peered out onto the deck and discovered the still beating body of a bird.

My heart hurt.

I longed to help the fragile, feathered being.

In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus described his father's care for sparrows in order to comfort the

disciples as he warned of upcoming dangers. He offered instructions to the 12 as he gave

them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness in verse 1.

The power to do such deeds might have seemed grand to the

disciples as many would oppose them. They would face opposition from governing authorities,

their own families, and the ensnaring grip of the evil one, verses 16 to 28. Then in chapter 10 verses 29 to 31, Jesus told them not to fear whatever they faced, because they

would never be out of their father's care.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny, he asked, yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your father's

care. So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. I checked on the bird throughout the

day and each time finding it alive but unmoved. Then, late into the evening, it was gone. I prayed it had survived. Surely if I cared

this much about the bird, God cared even more. Imagine how much he cares for you and me.

Today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Matthew 10, verses 16 through 20 and 26 to 31.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your

guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account,

you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say

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