KNOWN AND LOVED 

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  ~ Psalm 139:1 – 3

Many of us were assigned George Orwell’s sci-fi thriller “1984” to read in school. In 1949 Orwell penned a cautionary tale warning that Big Brother is always watching. Over the last seventy years, we’ve transitioned from a society that was terrified of mass surveillance to a society that welcomes devices into our homes that listen to every word we speak.

“Hey Alexa. Are you listening?”

“Siri, are you there?”

Even our phones are gathering information from every keystroke and every time we linger on a picture. Do one Google search for a new gizmo and your Facebook and Instagram feeds will be flooded with related products.

In today’s world where people share their thoughts, feelings, agreements, and disagreements on social media for everyone’s entertainment, we still may not want all our dirty laundry aired to the whole world.

Has the world of “1984” come to fruition? Is Big Brother reading all our correspondence, recording our calls, checking every financial transaction, watching our movements? Despite what we share with the world, we fear the possibility of that happening. We highly value our privacy and resist control, carefully hiding our secrets. This goes much further than e-mails, phone calls, and bank accounts; we also hide our sins of commission and omission. We may be afraid of being found out, discovered. Often, however, we simply fear rejection. What if the real person, hidden behind the facade, were uncovered?

So, consider…what if someone knew…

…your deepest thoughts and emotions?

…your true motives?

…your complete personal history?

…your talents, abilities, and gifts?

…your dreams and desires?

Would you feel threatened? Afraid? Embarrassed? Relieved?

David, the writer of Psalm 139, acknowledges that God knows everything about us. He has “searched” us. He understands who we are, what we have done, and why we do what we do.  He even knows our secrets; those secrets we hide from everyone. And he stands ready to forgive, heal, correct, guide, affirm, protect, and conform us to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29).

Holy week is upon us. Days before His death, Jesus cleansed the temple from anything interfering with the Gentile’s ability to worship God. As we celebrate Christ’s resurrection this Easter, Jesus wants the opportunity to cleanse each of us from anything we have been hiding.  Anything separating us from freely worshiping God. All we need to do is ask.

Follow God’s ways.  He knows and wants the best for each of us.

No need to hide.  You are known; you are loved.

Psalm 139 ends “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” This can be your prayer today.

PRAYER

I know that you know me, Lord …

Blessings,

Pastor Vic