You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways. -Psalm 139:1-3
There are elements in our society that encourage us to segment ourselves; between work, family, friends, church, neighbors, etc. Everyone gets a piece of us, but no one gets the whole of us. If we aren’t careful this mentality can creep into our relationship with God, where we only bring part of ourselves to the Throne of Grace.
Whenever we give into this mentality we are only deluding ourselves, for as Psalm 139 reminds us, God knows the fullness of who we are and what we do. This can be a scary thought, but also a beautiful one. To be fully known means there is nothing we can hide from God, but it also means that there is nothing we need to hide from God.
Our being fully known by God is not something that stays in the interior of our hearts or in the privacy of our prayer life, but rather it should blossom outward into all we are and do. As God knows us fully, so too are we called to bring our whole selves to God in all things. In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul instructs the Corinthians (and all Christians) to do everything to the glory of God.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
-1 Cor. 10:31
The fullness of our lives are to reflect the fullness of God’s knowledge of us. While God already knows the depths of who we are, God wants us to bring the fullness of who we are before God in all we do and in such a way that glorifies God. This is as much true in the mundane and everyday things as it is in the special and grandiose things of life.
The full extent of bringing our whole selves to God is found in our interactions with and treatment of others, especially those who are in need, those who have been pushed aside and marginalized by the world. For just as God knows us fully, so too does God know everyone else fully, regardless of if they are our friend, our enemy, or a stranger. The Prophet Micah tells us as much when he instructs that what God requires is justice, loving kindness, and a humble walk with God.
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? -Micah 6:7-8
So remember that you are fully known and loved by God and because of that we are called to bring our full selves to God in all things, including our life with others.
To God be the glory!
-Pastor Brian