May 28, 2024

Psalm 139.1–4 (NIV)
O Lord, you have searched me 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. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.

His care for us is personal and he deals with each of us individually.*

I hate to put this thought into your mind but perhaps you were already thinking the same thing: “He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.” Yes, a song about Santa Claus appears to have been taken from David’s psalm about God’s all-knowing character. 

Sometimes we don’t see God as the personal God that he actually is. Yes, he’s a great big God who knows everything but we fail to remember that he doesn’t have to prioritize his to-do list. He can keep the planets in orbit at that same time that he is reading my mind. David is saying that God has investigated us and thoroughly acquainted himself with us. He knows each of us on an individual basis - better than our spouse, our best friend, or our mom. He knows what I am thinking now and what I’m going to think later. He observes what we do and where we go. He knows what we said, what we are going to say, and what we meant to say. 

Is it a good thing to have the Almighty watching every move you make? Isn’t a bit creepy to have someone know you that well? Is there that same sense of fear we get when we think about Santa Claus knowing all about us? Then perhaps you will find comfort in this thought: if God does not know us perfectly, how can he prepare a perfect salvation for us?* 

Don’t think thoughts you don’t want Jesus to hear.*