God KNOWS and SEES Everything - that is BOTH Terrifying and Comforting

My grandmother lived through the depression and that made an impact on her all of her life.  Even after she had become a doctor and finances were not really an issue she still saved and kept everything.  One of my favorite things to do when I visited grandma was to sneak away into some of the rooms and look through the drawers and closets.  I would spend hours sorting and looking and wondering at all the stuff. Much of it was new and still in boxes.  One time as I was exploring I came across a beautiful pocket watch.  Without thinking too much about it and without asking I stuck the watch in my pocket and took it home. I had the watch but I never showed it to anyone because they might ask where I got it.  After a number of years being hidden away I lost it.  Years went by, and I seldom thought about it.  But then when I was 19 years old I went into missionary training and then on to Ecuador to serve for a couple of years.  During this time God was doing a serious work in my heart.  I remembered the watch and was overcome with guilt.  I tried to ignore it.  After all nobody knew what I had done there was no way that anyone would ever find out.  Yet the quiet inner voice of God kept on speaking to me in my conscience and would NOT let me rest. Finally I wrote grandma a letter telling her what I had done and asking her forgiveness.  She wrote back a gracious letter telling me she forgave me. She went on to say that the pocket watch did not matter but a clean conscience did. The fact that God knows everything and is everywhere present is both terrifying and comforting.  Let’s look at some verses from Psalm 139.  

Psalm 139:1-4 (NLT) O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. [2] You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. ...[4] You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.

David tells us that God knows everything we DO as well as everything we THINK.  We are reminded that God knows every single WORD we say BEFORE we even say it.  That is the TERRIFYING part of this.  When I sin in thoughts, words, or actions I am sinning in God’s presence.  He knows about it. I cannot hide my sin from Him. God KNOWS all things and we cannot hide anything from Him.

Psalm 139:5-6 (NLT) You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.

God has all knowledge and He is present everywhere.  So these words can be a comfort to us. I believe that the Lord is saying I will go in front of you leading and guiding you.  And I will also go behind you protecting you and keeping you safe. Further comfort is found in the imagery of God placing His hand of blessing on our heads.  That God would care for us even when He knows where we have been and what we have done it absolutely remarkable.  Yet God extends His Mercy  and Grace to us even though He knows how sinful our motives and actions really are.

PRAYER:  Lord God thank You for Your quiet voice of conscience.  Thank You for the guilt that you bring when we have sinned.  Lord God thank You for the Comfort of Your Mercy and Grace.  Thank You for the Comfort of Your presence even when we wander away from You.  Thank You that Jesus came to Save NOT to Condemn us.     

IS DISCIPLINE TRAINING OR PUNISHMENT?

When I was in high school I willingly endured torturous training and discipline.  Everyday for about 3 hours I would run up down stadium steps, lift weights, run wind sprints, do suicide and fourth quarter drills until I was exhausted.  I hated it - and yet I loved being able to play into the 3^rd overtime during a game and not be tired.  Our coach was a man who believed in discipline - and he was deadly serious about it.  And anyone who was not serious about the discipline necessary to play ball for him did not make the team.  As I was reading in Hebrews 12 the thought that God disciplines His children came through clearly. 

Hebrews 12:5-7 (NET) And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s DISCIPLINE or give up when He CORRECTS you. [6] “For the Lord DISCIPLINES the one he loves and CHASTISES every son he accepts.” [7] Endure your SUFFERING as DISCIPLINE; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not DISCIPLINE?

I think that in the past I have interpreted these verses through the eyes of a child who has been disobedient and is suffering punishment.  Certainly punishment for wrongdoing can be part of God’s discipline. The word chastise (vs. 6) means to punish.  Verse seven reminds us that many times discipline comes in some form of suffering.  So in God’s Word discipline also means to correct and instruct.  There are times when God is not punishing rather He is shaping and molding us through His discipline.

Speaking of human parents the writer to the Hebrews says...

Hebrews 12:10-11 (NET) ...they DISCIPLINED us for a little while as seemed good to them, but HE does so for OUR benefit, that we may share His holiness. [11]  Now ALL DISCIPLINE seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it PRODUCES the fruit of peace and righteousness for those TRAINED by it.

Good parents do their best to discipline their children, but God like the perfect parent -OR- coach brings DISCIPLINE into our lives SO THAT there will be a harvest of godliness in our lives.  Once I started seeing the things God brought into my life as an incentive for growth rather than punishment it changed my perspective. I was much more willing to embrace those hard things because they were for MY good.  The discipline my coach forced on me trained me so that I could play at full speed all the way to the end of the game.  God TRAINS us through the discipline of painful things SO THAT we will be able to FINISH the race which He has place before us WELL. (Heb. 12.1-2)

PRAYER: Lord God, please help me to remember that all the things You are doing in my life is for my benefit and good.  You want me to bring You honor and glory by the way I think, speak, and act.  Lord, I long to finish each day well - in a way that really does honor You.  Help me to see the hard things that come along as part of your discipline in MY LIFE to strengthen me and encourage me.  Thank You.