January 12
Bible Reading: John 2:23-25
John 2:25, “…he himself knew what was in man.”
He was on his deathbed, weeks from dying. I had just introduced myself to him as the hospice chaplain. He then surprised me by saying, “I’ve spent my whole life sinning.” From that visit, week-after-week, we talked about Jesus and His death for sins and resurrection from the dead. I explained to him that salvation is by grace through faith, and that he could be saved by trusting in Jesus. He had a heart to hear, but then asked, “But how can I know that my faith is real and not simply some kind of death-bed conversion?” “Jesus knows your heart,” I said, “and the very fact that you’ve asked that question is indicative of the sincerity of your faith.”
The Christmas song says of the mythical Santa that “He’s going to find out who’s naughty or nice!” But Santa doesn’t know. He’s not even real! Jesus, on the other hand, knows all about us. We don’t even know ourselves, but Jesus knows. It is as Jeremiah 17:9-10 explains: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind.” He knows all about us. He knows what we are thinking, what we are doing, and even knows what we are going to say before we say it (Psalm 139:1-4)!
The omniscience of God is a truth that cuts both ways. To those with something to hide, it is a fearsome thing. Jonah tried to avoid God, to no avail! But when we lay ourselves bare to Him, in our brokenness, and look to Him alone to save, it is good to know that He is all knowing! Consider this, the One who knew what was in a man, nevertheless came to save such men! The Jesus who knows me and everything about me, loves me! In the words of the Apostle Paul, “(He) loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)! Give some thought to this wonderful truth today. Thank Jesus for loving you, in spite of your faults and failures. Pray the prayer of the Psalmist: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thought. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24)!”
The One who knows all and loves still, is One who is worth knowing!
NO, NOT ONE!
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases–
No, not one! no, not one!
Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!
No friend like Him is so high and holy–
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly–
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]
There’s not an hour that He is not near us –
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us–
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]
Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 