How much do others know about you? Do you find that people begin to shy away from you as they get to know you more? How much do you want others to know about you?<\/p>\n
I find it interesting how much some people are willing to publicize about themselves on social media or just in general conversation. Yet, in general, people do seem to be guarded about how much they share with others. Some \u201cskeletons\u201d just seem to be best kept in the closet away from the public eye or at best only known to few people.<\/p>\n
Have you ever stopped to think of how much God knows about you?<\/strong> The Bible tells us, \u201cFor the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD<\/strong>, and He<\/strong> pondereth<\/span> [carefully] all his goings<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Proverbs 5:21). Does the reality that He knows everything about you, even all of your shortcomings and \u201cskeletons,\u201d lead you to the conclusion that \u201cHe must not love me because of them?\u201d or even, \u201cHe must not love me because I\u2019m just not good enough?\u201d<\/p>\n The challenge for each of us is that we often depend upon how we feel<\/em> and in turn allow our feelings<\/em> to determine our sense of reality. If we are not careful, we can allow our circumstances to define our theology\u2014Who we see God to be\u2014and in turn shrink Him down to a size that is too small for our problems. What good is a small<\/em> God?<\/p>\n Keep in mind that what you know and rely upon to be true about the Lord will transform your life! <\/strong>The Precious Truth<\/em> that we need to consider is that God knows EVERYTHING there is to know about each of us and yet He still loves us!<\/em><\/p>\n If others knew you to the degree that God knows you, how would your relationships with them change? If you knew your best friend to the degree that God knows you would you continue in that friendship? Sometimes the more we get to know someone the more we wish we didn\u2019t know them.<\/p>\n Consider David\u2019s words in Psalm 139,<\/p>\n \u201cO LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> hast searched me, and known me. Thou <\/strong>knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou<\/strong> understandest my thought afar off. Thou<\/strong> compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> knowest it altogether. Thou<\/strong> hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine<\/strong> hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.<\/span>\u201d\u2014Psalm 139:1-6<\/em><\/p>\n David realize that God knew him to the fullest extent that he could be known\u2014even more than he knew himself. From this and other passages it is obvious that David was in awe of the fact that God even knew him. Consider what he says in Psalm 8.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I consider Thy<\/strong> heavens, the work of Thy<\/strong> fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou<\/strong> hast ordained; What is man, that Thou<\/strong> art mindful<\/span> [think about] of him? and the son of man, that Thou<\/strong> visitest<\/span><\/em> [to pay special attention<\/em>] him?<\/em><\/span>\u201d\u2014Psalm 8:3-4<\/p>\n Picture David, the shepherd boy, lying on his back looking up at the starlit sky speaking to God saying, \u201cLord, As I consider the great expanse of the universe that You made, how do You even know that I am here?\u201d David was moved in worship that his infinite<\/em> God took notice of his finite<\/em> life. In the great expanse of God\u2019s creation, the fact that He is intimately aware of each of our lives speaks of His greatness that is so far beyond my comprehension.<\/p>\n In Psalm 139, as I have pondered the reality that God knows everything there is to know about me, I am amazed to think that He still loves me. How do I draw this conclusion?<\/p>\n First, consider what God knows about each of us. David tells us in verses 1-4, \u201cO LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> hast searched me, and known me. Thou <\/strong>knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou<\/strong> understandest my thought afar off. Thou<\/strong> compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> knowest it altogether<\/span><\/em>.\u201d David acknowledges God\u2019s full & complete knowledge of him. There is nothing hidden from God. He knows all the secrets that only we know about ourselves. He knows all our thoughts, desires, intentions, and motives. He knows the hypocrisy and lies that we may live with thinking we are fooling everyone into believing we are someone that we truly are not. In verse 2 we read, \u201cYou understand my thought afar off<\/em><\/span>.\u201d God even knows the thoughts that we have yet to think. He knows more about us than even we know about ourselves. These are the actions of a God who loves us!<\/strong><\/p>\n With all of this knowledge that God has about us, IS it a wonder to you that HE still loves you?<\/em> It is to me!<\/strong> He knows all the times that I have<\/em> failed Him and all the times that I will<\/em> fail Him yet that does not cause His love for me to diminish.<\/p>\n The Precious Truth<\/em> to consider here is that God\u2019s love is not dependent upon who I am or what I do but upon WHO HE IS!<\/strong> God\u2019s love does not change, \u201cfor God<\/strong> is love<\/em><\/span>\u201d (1 John 4:8).<\/p>\n Next, consider what David concludes that God has done for him while possessing this knowledge. \u201cThou<\/strong> hast beset me behind and before, and laid<\/em> Thine<\/strong> hand upon me<\/span>\u201d (Psalm 139:5). With this knowledge God has not run from us but, instead, has drawn near to us. He knows that we need Him\u2014we need His grace and mercy; we need His love and compassion; we need His wisdom and protection; we need His presence\u2014we need HIM! God knows our needs and in turn, through His grace and mercy, has made provision for those needs.<\/p>\n Consider what He has done for us. \u201cFor God<\/strong> so loved the world, that He<\/strong> gave His<\/strong> only begotten Son<\/strong> <\/span>[Jesus], that whosoever believeth in Him<\/strong> should not perish, but have everlasting life<\/span><\/em>\u201d (John 3:16). \u201cBut God<\/strong> commendeth<\/span> [proved] His<\/strong> love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ<\/strong> died for us<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Romans 5:8). \u201cThe<\/em> LORD<\/strong> hath appeared of old unto me, saying,<\/em> \u2018Yea, I<\/strong> have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I<\/strong> drawn thee<\/span>\u2019\u201d (Jeremiah 31:3).<\/p>\n God acted upon this knowledge and sent His only Son to make provision for our ultimate<\/em> need\u2014our need of salvation. Through faith in His Son, Jesus, we can be united to God in a personal relationship for all of eternity. Through faith alone<\/em> in Christ alone<\/em> my heart was changed\u2014my sins were forgiven\u2014my guilt was removed and I came to understand the loving relationship that my heavenly Father has always desired for me to have with Him. Consider reading \u201cHow Do I Get to Heaven<\/a>\u201d for additional insight on how you can enjoy a personal relationship with God.<\/p>\n As David ponders this truth he erupts in such unrestrainable joy and worship as he says, \u201cSuch knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it<\/em><\/span>\u201d (Psalm 139:6). This knowledge was outside of his realm of comprehension. It brought David to his knees in humility and awe as he worshipped his all-knowing, awesome God.<\/p>\n Get to know the God of the Bible. Read God\u2019s Word<\/em> and then take God at His Word<\/em>. He means what He says and He says what He means! Our understanding of the knowledge of God should bring us to our knees in worship of Him. It should humble us and in turn we too should be in awe of Him.<\/p>\n As you consider what God knows about you also realize that He continues to stay with you and draw you. When others may distance themselves the more they learn of you, consider how the Lord draws near, fully knowing who we are. David continues in the following verses saying, \u201cWhither shall I go from Thy<\/strong> spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy<\/strong> presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou<\/strong> art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou<\/strong> art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy<\/strong> hand lead me, and Thy<\/strong> right hand shall hold me<\/em><\/span>\u201d (Psalm 139:7-10).<\/p>\n Our intimate knowledge of God will shape our response to the trials of life. <\/strong>In spite of all our shortcomings God promises, \u201cFear thou not; for I<\/strong> am with thee: be not dismayed<\/span> [or disheartened as you consider your circumstances]; for I<\/strong> am thy God<\/strong>: I<\/strong> will strengthen thee; yea, I<\/strong> will help thee; yea, I <\/strong>will uphold thee with the right hand of My<\/strong> righteousness<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Isaiah 41:10).<\/p>\n Is this \u201cknowledge too wonderful for you?<\/em>\u201d Does it move you to worship your God as it fills your heart with joy? Let us seek to be intentional about remembering who our God is. Jeremiah writes, \u201cThis I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Lamentations 3:21). \u201cThis is what I intentionally remember about my God, therefore I have patient confidence.\u201d The truths of God will stabilize you as you meditate upon them.<\/p>\n \u201cGOD LOVES YOU!<\/em>\u201d Let this transforming truth settle your heart.<\/p>\n