How much do others know about you? People tend to be guarded, to varying\u00a0degrees, about what they share with others as\u00a0we all have those areas in our lives that we don\u2019t want others to know about. Although I find it interesting how much some people will publicize about themselves whether it is on social media or general conversation.<\/p>\n
Have you ever stopped to think of how much God knows about you? Does the reality that He knows everything about you, even all of your shortcomings lead you to the conclusion that \u201cHe must NOT\u00a0love me\u00a0because of them?\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenge for each of us is that we often depend upon how we\u00a0feel<\/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 who God is and in turn shrink Him down to a size that is too small for our problems. What good is a small<\/em>\u00a0God?<\/p>\n Keep in mind that what you know and rely on to be true about the Lord will transform your life!\u00a0<\/strong>The Precious Truth<\/i>\u00a0that we need to consider is that God\u00a0knows EVERYTHING\u00a0there is to know about each of us\u00a0and yet He still loves us!<\/em><\/p>\n If others knew you to the degree that God knows you, how would your relationship with them change? \u00a0If 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 here in Psalm 139:1-6.\u00a0\u201cO LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> hast searched me, and known me.<\/em> 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<\/em> all my ways. For there is<\/em> not a word in my tongue, but,<\/em> 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<\/em> knowledge is<\/em> too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain<\/em> unto it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n To what extent did David realize that God knew\u00a0him? The first thing that jumps out at me is that David was in awe of the fact that God even knew him. Consider what he says in Psalm 8.\u00a0\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 [think about<\/em>] of him? and the son of man, that Thou<\/strong> visitest [to\u00a0<\/em>pay special attention<\/em>] him?\u201d<\/span> (Psalm 8:3-4) Picture\u00a0David the shepherd lying on his back looking up at the night\u2019s starlit sky speaking to God saying, \u201cLord, As I consider the great expanse of the universe that You made, how do You\u00a0even know that I am here?\u201d David was moved in worship that his infinite<\/em> God took notice of his finite<\/em> life.\u00a0In the great expanse of God\u2019s creation, the fact that He is intimately aware of each of our\u00a0lives speaks of His greatness that is\u00a0so 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\u00a0He\u00a0still loves me.\u00a0 How do I draw this conclusion?\u00a0Well first consider what God knows about each of us.\u00a0 David tells us\u00a0in verses 1-4,\u00a0\u201cO LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> hast searched me, and known me.<\/em> 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<\/em> all my ways. For there is<\/em> not a word in my tongue, but,<\/em> lo, O LORD<\/strong>, Thou<\/strong> knowest it altogether.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n David acknowledges God\u2019s full & complete knowledge of him. There is nothing hidden from God.\u00a0 He knows all the secrets that only we know about ourselves.\u00a0 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,\u00a0\u201cYou understand my thought afar off<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0God even knows the thoughts that we have yet to think.\u00a0 He knows more about us than even we know about ourselves. These are the actions of a God who loves us.<\/p>\n With all of this knowledge that God has about us, IS\u00a0it a wonder to you that HE still loves you?<\/strong>\u00a0 It is to me!\u00a0 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 deter His love for\u00a0me.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Precious 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.<\/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 Thine<\/strong> hand upon me.<\/span>\u201d (Psalm 139:5)\u00a0With this knowledge God has not run from us but has drawn near to us.\u00a0He 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\u00a0His 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> [Jesus<\/em>], that whosoever believeth in Him<\/strong> should not perish, but have everlasting life.<\/span>\u201d (John 3:16)\u00a0\u201cBut God<\/strong> commendeth [proved<\/em>] His<\/strong> love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ<\/strong> died for us.\u201d<\/span> (Romans 5:8)\u00a0\u201cThe 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\u2019.\u201d<\/span> (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.\u00a0 Through faith in His Son, Jesus, we can be united to\u00a0God in a personal relationship. 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 uncontainable joy and worship as he says, \u201cSuch<\/em> knowledge is<\/em> too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain<\/em> unto it.<\/span>\u201d (Psalm 139:6)\u00a0This knowledge was outside of his realm of comprehension.\u00a0 It brought David to his knees in humility and awe as he worshipped his all-knowing Savior.<\/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!\u00a0Our understanding of the knowledge of God should bring us to our knees in worship of Him.\u00a0 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. When others choose to 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,\u00a0\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<\/em> there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou<\/strong> art there.<\/em> If<\/em> I take the wings of the morning, and<\/em> dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;\u00a0even there shall Thy<\/strong> hand lead me, and Thy<\/strong> right hand shall hold me.\u201d<\/span> (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,\u00a0\u201cFear thou not; for I<\/strong> am<\/em> with thee: be not dismayed [or disheartened as you consider your circumstances<\/em>]; for I<\/strong> am<\/em> thy God<\/strong>: I<\/strong> will strengthen thee; yea, I<\/strong> will help thee; yea, I <\/strong>will uphold thee with the right hand\u00a0of My<\/strong> righteousness.\u201d<\/span> (Isaiah 41:10)<\/p>\n Is this\u00a0\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. \u00a0Jeremiah writes,\u00a0\u201cThis I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.\u201d<\/span> (Lamentations 3:21)\u00a0\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