I once saw a cartoon that depicted a stadium full of people intended to look like thousands. From the speck of a small podium down on the field a speaker was trying to encourage the sea of people before him. He called out, “Don’t think you’re just a number!” It was laughable, all right. How could anyone in such a crowd not feel like just a number?
But it is saddening beyond words when this mentality makes its way into our thoughts of how God thinks of us.
And yet, it’s understandable. We can’t conceive of a mind that doesn’t think sequentially and is not restricted to thinking in terms of numbers and categories. But God has just such a mind. He says to us:
“… my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” — Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Far from being “just a number” God sees you and attends to you as if you were the only creature he created.
And Jesus said, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” — Luke 12:6-7
This is why when Jesus came into the world, he came with you on his heart. And not only just then, but you were on his mind in all his teaching, all his miracles, his sufferings, his crucifixion, his resurrection, his ascension, and his promise to come again. In all of this, he was thinking not of masses of people, he was thinking of you.
And what was he thinking? He was thinking of how precious you are to him, and how much he longs for your friendship. And he came and did all that he did so that you could say your “yes!” to him and he could take your hand and walk with you as friend with friend for time and forever.
