Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19 (NIV
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
Every good parent worth their salt knows their children, Amen? We can tell when they are discouraged or embarrassed or scared or hungry or tired and we come alongside to strengthen their walks, bolster their weaknesses and encourage them with loving hugs and words of affirmation. Now if we, though flesh and blood, know how to give our children gifts that strengthen, how much more so will God who is the loving and great Father of us all?
God knows us. Indeed, He is intimately aware of everything about us – every picadillo, every hurt, every joy – He knows us inside and out because He is the One Who made us. He knit us together in our mother’s wombs. We were created pregnant with purpose and are all fearfully and wonderfully made. And He loves us – even when we are covered with the dirt of our own doings. My mother would laughingly say when my kids were little all covered with spaghetti or whatever that it would certainly be easier to get a new one than to clean that one up! Yet God lovingly looks at us in all our messes and His desire is to love us through them. He doesn’t want us to stay wallowing in the pig pens of our own choosing – that’s not what we were created to do. Rather, He waits for us to look up and He comes running to our aid – much like the Prodigal Son story of the past. Amazing. He never gives up on us or forces us into following rather He is winsome and wooing and waits. Such love is this – to know me with all my fears and insecurities and imperfections and to love me anyway. Not because of them but in spite of them. Fully known and fully loved. What a Savior, what a Friend.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. Psalms 139:13-18 (NIV)