"You know me, yet you still like me," so says a family friend with a smile. This is a marvelous thing when we stop to think about it, that one can continually open up to be known, confident that another will love him or her just the same. Being "real" in relationship, and yet no less loved, is a healthy pattern that leads to ever-deepening friendships of love, trust and joy.
God knows us (Psalm 139:1-4). He knows everything about us: "... when I sit and when I rise ... my thoughts ... my going out and my lying down ...all my ways ... a word [before it] is on my tongue..." And God still loves us!
God is always with us (Psalm 139:5-12). We are always in his presence; he is with us: "... behind and before ... up in the heavens ... in the depths ... when I rise on the wings of the dawn ... on the far side of the sea..." And God still loves us!
God made us (Psalm 139:13-16). Before we had awareness, he: "... created my inmost being ... knit me together ... fearfully and wonderfully made me ... saw my unformed body..." And God still loves us!
Often times, we try to hide the darknesses of our soul and, when we do, we stymie relationships. In fear, we become superficial with our friends and, in shame, we try to distance ourselves from our God. But God knows us far better than we know ourselves, and he loves us far more than we love ourselves!
Rather than letting our deep secrets separate us from God, let us run to him in complete openness, honesty and trust. He already knows everything about us and he still loves us. In fact, he delights in us!
And just as we have been made one with the Father through his Son, so we are also one with all who believe in Jesus. Let us wisely build bridges of trust and trustworthiness, so that the body of Christ moves as one in love and ministry.
Praise ye the Father for his loving kindness;
Tenderly cares he for his erring children;
Praise him, ye angels, praise him in the heavens,
Praise ye Jehovah.
Elizabeth Rundle Charles
No comments:
Post a Comment