An old legend about the Titanic goes like this: A woman boarding the ship nervously asked a deckhand if the Titanic was truly unsinkable, to which he replied, “God Himself could not sink this ship.”
A tragic outcome would later prove how wrong that statement was. But the man would not have been alone in his blunder, as some of the most brilliant minds of history have gotten things wrong. For instance, Winston Churchill once proclaimed that war with Japan was impossible. (It happened!)
Given that people can be so wrong in their assessments, it’s strange that we can sometimes live in such fear of them—as if others are not as fallible as we are. But Matthew 10 reminds us of the One who holds true authority and knowledge: God alone. He has authority not just over the physical body, but also over our very souls (Matthew 10:28). His wisdom is comprehensive, and He knows even the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). Like Job, we often spend too much time listening to the advice of our imperfect friends rather than the opinions of our almighty God.
In the same passage in Matthew, Jesus went on to say that not only are we known by God, but we’re valuable to Him (Matthew 10:31). This reveals, as repeated elsewhere in Scripture, that the fear of the Lord isn’t in opposition to His love. Proverbs 9:10 reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and in Psalm 118:4 we read, “Let all who fear the LORD repeat: ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ ”
So we should draw near to God, not just because He knows more than anyone else, but also because He loves us so much more!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 9:1-17
More:
Read Psalm 139:13-18 for a beautiful reminder of how God’s deep knowledge of us goes hand-in-hand with His matchless love!
Next:
Whose opinion or judgment do you listen to most in your life? How can you know and listen more closely to the opinion and judgment of God?
Gary Shultz on January 7, 2015 at 6:35 am
Draw near indeed. One thing that has helped me recently was Winn Collier’s reference to the Prayer of Examen. I found myself riveted to the first discipline, the presents of God. It is in direct response to everything you are referencing. It will bend your mind, soul, and spirit. I have much work to do with this discipline, but oh, how reveling.
peter chin on January 7, 2015 at 11:53 am
Yes! The prayer of examen is a great tool for this, to humble ourselves before God, but also to take in God’s Spirit and word, which testify to God’s love for us as revealed in the life and death of Christ.
seeking777always on January 7, 2015 at 11:29 am
It truly is a blessing to know that we are indeed valued by God. This knowledge has helped me through many struggles in life. I am grateful that God reveals this and so much more to us each and every day.
May be accept this knowledge more every day as we grow closer to HIS unending love. May we through this unending love be a living representation of who HE is.
peter chin on January 7, 2015 at 11:52 am
Amen, so much of our journey of faith is returning over and over again to this truth, that we are valued and loved by God, even though he knows us through and through.