Without Equal

May 22, 2024

The bird in this week’s photo is a Painted Bunting. I took this picture while on a recent camping trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia. The setting was in a bird and butterfly sanctuary on the campground property. There were signs in and around the sanctuary to be quiet so everyone could experience the wildlife.

Sitting on one of the double swings watching the birds, butterflies, and squirrels as they fed, bathed, and drank from the trickling fountain was very relaxing. It wasn’t a very large sanctuary, but it provided a serene place to relax.

It’s interesting that the French name of the Painted Bunting is nonpareil, which means “without equal”, a reference to the bird’s dazzling plumage.[1]

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The bird is beautiful—even more in real life, but there is really only one who is “without equal.”

And that is God, for God has no equal.

 “Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4, NASB)

“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me. (Isaiah 43:10)

“This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.’” (Isaiah 44:6)

The beautiful thing about this one God is that He wants a relationship with us.

Granted, rocking slowly back and forth, watching birds is relaxing. It’s restful. As you might imagine, sitting in the bird sanctuary can even give you a moment or two to let the burdens of the world float way.

But if we want true rest, a life where the burden of trying to measure up to whatever standard we set for ourselves or believe has been set for us, then we need to take the Lord up on His desire to have a relationship with us. In that relationship He takes away our burdens through his death and resurrection so that we may be free from our sins.

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

My prayer is we experience a relationship with the one “without equal” God.

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[1] https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Bunting/overview