Saturday August 15, 2020

Psalm 139:1-3 23,24
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.

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.

Being understood is a human need, something most of us look for in life. Some psychologists write that it may be the most basic of human needs.

Jesus understands us. God understands us. The Holy Spirit understands us.

God created us!

Jesus became like us and walked among us!

The Holy Spirit is given as counselor, advocate, comforter, God’s presence.

One of my favorite events in scripture is when Jesus came to the disciples while they were on a boat in the Sea of Galilee. He came walking on the water. Peter, unsure if it was really Him, asked Jesus to prove it by having Peter walk on the water too. Jesus did, but soon Peter takes his eyes of Jesus, takes a closer look at the black water and the surrounding storm, and begins to sink, crying, “Save me Jesus”. Jesus pulls him out of the water and walks him back to the safety of the boat.

Peter took his eyes of Jesus, but Jesus never took His eyes off Peter.

Jesus understood Peter, understood his human condition, understood his fear. Jesus did not judge him, condemn him, or reject him. Jesus simply loved Peter, like he loves us all. Jesus understands us, he became us, “Tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” He suffered pain, hurt, rejection, betrayal, suffering and death. Jesus hoped, dreamed, lived, and died, for us. He understands.

Psalm 139 reminds us how well God knows us, deeply, completely, and without limitations. He knows that which is offensive in us. He knows that which is good in us. He knows the anxious thoughts. He knows our hopes and dreams, our faith and our doubts. God embraces all of this as only the one who created us can. God’s knowing and understanding embraces us completely in an overwhelming love that could only be communicated in a Cross, and in the amazing moment when He reached down into the Sea of Galilee and saved Peter, just as He saves us today and every day.

There is one basic human need that only God can fully meet, to be understood. Wherever you are, whatever you are experiencing, whoever you are; God understands.

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. Save me Jesus. Amen