November 8 – Being Known

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. ” – Psalm 139:1 (NASB)

David, who was King of Israel for 40 years wrote many of the songs we have in the book of Songs which we call Psalms. These Psalms were sung in worship. The Psalm we look at today was titled “For the choir director. A Psalm  of David.” Like many other psalms written by David, this one is intensely personal. It expresses David’s awe that God knew him down to the minutest intimate detail. He begins with his wonder and confession of God’s omniscience (all-knowing). The promise here is that nothing about us can be hidden from God. In the first six verses, we can know that whatever we do at any time in every 24 hours, God knows. NOTHING is hidden from God not even the thoughts that form the words we contemplate saying. “Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.” (v. 5) Such a promise might be intimidating for us if we are trying to sneak something past God. But more likely, if we will, it is a wonderful blessing and truth that we are not alone in this world. God know everything about everything.

195

November 2 – Unrestrained Passion Forever

 “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 17:26 (ESV)

Our verse and promise come from the Lord’s Prayer. No, not THAT Lord’s Prayer but the prayer our Lord offered up to the Father on His last night. Soon to be arrested, Jesus prayed for all his disciples and included all who ever will be. Can you imagine being able to enjoy what is most pleasurable with unrestrained energy and passion forever? This of course is not our experience now. Too much blocks our satisfaction in this world. Is there anything in this created world that has a personal worth great enough to meet the deepest cravings of our hearts? Do we possess the strength necessary to treasure the best resources to their maximum worth? Do the joys we have here and now come to an end? No, No, and Yes. Nothing lasts. Jesus prayed “that the love with which you, Father, have loved me may be in them.” God’s infinite love for his Son in us! If God’s pleasure in the Son becomes our pleasure in the Son, then the object of our pleasure, Jesus, will be inexhaustible in personal worth. Never become boring, disappointing, or frustrating. No greater treasure can be conceived than the Son of God.

 199

 

January 23 – His Love In Us

“ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25-26 (ESV)

The last meal Jesus had with His disciples was His last Passover meal on Earth. He concludes his prayer with a call to the Righteous Father. The word translated “righteous” here doesn’t occur often in John’s Gospel. It’s significant as it’s His praise of the Father’s work of revelation. God our Father is right (righteous) and the world is in the wrong ("the world does not know You"). Jesus has known, and revealed the Father, and continues as Christians follow His example. The essence of God is love. Jesus revealed the Father and His love to the world in His own death and resurrection. And the Father made known His love for the Son by raising Him to glory. Jesus’ purpose in revealing the Father was that Christians would continue to grow in that love, that the Father’s love for the Son may be in them, and to enjoy the personal presence of Jesus in their lives and “I in them. Jesus has four petitions for believers: preservation (John 17:11), sanctification (John 17:17), unity (John 17:11, 21–22), and participation in Jesus’ glory (John 17:24). This prayer is answered every day with the conversion of each lost soul.  

- 197 -

September 6 – Clearly Know

“ For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”  1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV) 

Do we really know ourselves?  We may think we do but probably we don’t.  If we are as most, we try to do the best we can with what we know.  In the days that Apostle Paul visited Corinth, it was a city much caught up in its own image and the pleasures that made it up.  Mirrors in that day of the 1st Century A.D. were polished brass and they reflected badly.  Paul is teaching the believers that how we perceive ourselves today is nothing like how we will once we are in heaven.  We will see ourselves clearly as if face to face.  Today, this is not so unrealistic, our mirrors work well but in that time it was a good example.  And, Paul says not only will we see ourselves for what we are in Jesus Christ, we will also know ourselves in a way that is complete.  We will know just as we are known.  We will see ourselves and know ourselves just as Christ has made us.  No longer confused children, but mature (perfect) in Christ. We will lack nothing. We will have all we are and need.

- 193 -