Fully Known, Fully Loved

There’s a promise that Jesus stated that can be found in the Bible in the books of Mark and Luke that says:

“For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.”  Luke 8:17 (NLT) 

For most of us, that promise provokes an incredible sense of fear and panic. I can’t imagine an accumulation of my immoral thoughts broadcast for the world to see. Yet, here is the Prince of Peace promising that all that is in secret will eventually be brought out into the open. That doesn’t feel like good news…unless you pair it with another truth from the Bible: God already fully knows you. This dynamic with God is written about in the Book of Psalms.

“O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!”

- Psalms 139:1-6 (NLT)

God sees the whole of who you are, good and bad. He sees the times you are living in sync with Him and He sees the darkest parts of your heart. There is NOTHING hidden from His sight. And this is where the good news comes into play: God is the only One who fully knows you AND fully loves you! Paul said, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

So if God fully knows us (good and bad), and fully loves us, how should we respond? Let’s again look to the book of Psalms:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

- Psalms 139:23-24 (NLT)

The Psalmist moves from merely acknowledging God’s infinite knowledge to inviting God to speak into his life and show him how to live. When we know we are fully loved, we don’t have to fear correction. We don’t have to be paralyzed by mistakes or failures. We simply turn to the One who loves us and let Him redirect us and realign our hearts to His.

One final truth to consider is that we are to be reflectors of God’s love. So if God fully knows and fully loves, we are called to do the same. As the church, we should be a safe place to meet people where they’re at and lovingly point them back to truth and Christ. The sweetness of fellowship with other believers is a gift from God because it reminds us that in God’s kingdom we are fully known and fully loved. Let’s say thanks to Him this weekend as we sing together. 

We will be singing Glorious Day to reaffirm that we have died and are a new creation, alive in Christ and don’t have to live under the shame of our past. We will be signing What a Beautiful Name to give honor and gory to Jesus for setting us free. Finally, we will sing Build Your Kingdom Here to ask God to continue the work in us, our church and our city.