A Word from God's Word

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!”

Psalm 139:1

WHETHER WE WISH TO ADMIT it or not, it may be true at times that we are careful to present to others what we want them to see and to hide away what we don’t want to be seen. We “put our best foot forward”. And therefore, the thought presented in Psalm 139 that God knows us inside and out, including our hidden thoughts and feelings, could be unnerving to some. But for the believer, these thoughts bring comfort. And why is that? For at least two reasons.

First, although God sees all that is in the mind and heart of each of us, for the one who is trusting in Christ for salvation, God grants grace and forgiveness and even credits us with the perfect righteousness of Christ. Although God sees into our hearts, nevertheless, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

And second, as He searches our hearts, God continues to be at work in the life of each believer, molding and shaping us so that we ultimately might be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). He uses the trials and difficulties that we face to accomplish this work, and of course, the goal will not be achieved in this life, but we know that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".