Psalm 139:1-3 - O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
There are differing opinions concerning the use of surveillance cameras. Should someone—anyone—be allowed to know your location at any given time? Similar discussions take place about the use of social media. How much personal information, if any, should be shared for all to see? Then, of course, there is the problem of hackers who try to steal personal information.
How much do we really want others to know about us? After all, we have secrets; we would rather not have our sins revealed to the world. We may even try to hide our guilt from God, just as Adam and Eve once tried in vain to hide from Him. We cannot hide from our Creator any more than our first parents could. With the psalmist we must admit, "O God, You know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from You" (Psalm 69:5). We are not even fully aware of all our sins. In repentant humility we can only confess the wrongs we know and ask God to forgive every sin, even those unknown to us: "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults" (Psalm 19:12).
God has declared us innocent from every fault, even those faults that are hidden and unknown to us, because Jesus took onto Himself our every sin of thought, word, and deed. Jesus bore this burden of sin, guilt and shame in His own body to the cross where He suffered the penalty of death we deserved. He rose in triumph over death and His blood shed on the cross "cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7b).
The psalmist rejoices in the Lord who knows everything about him, who sees his every secret thought and secret sin, and yet still loves him. We know that same love because "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8b). Our loving Lord knows each of us as well as He knew His inspired psalmist. Our Creator and Savior knows when we sit down—to eat, to work, to relax at home. He knows when we stand up. He knows when we go to sleep—on nights of restful sleep and on nights when sleep does not come so easily. He watches over us through the night and He is with us when we get up in the morning. He knows what we will do each day before we have decided what to do.
The Lord who knows us so well is the same Lord who laid down His life to save us, and He keeps watch over His people: "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). That's the kind of surveillance we want to have.
THE PRAYER: Jesus, You know me so well. I am secure and safe in Your care. Thank You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever checked your ancestry? Did you find any surprises in your search?
2. How familiar do you think God is with our lives, especially the deep-down stuff?
3. Are there things in your life that you think God would probably have a hard time forgiving?
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 19-20 John 5:25-47
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