Known and Loved
by Catherine Baker
February 28, Saturday – Psalms 55, 138, 139:1-17(18-23), Deuteronomy 11:18-28, Hebrews 5:1-10, John 4:1-26
We serve a God who intimately knows us. He created us in the beginning and continues to form his likeness in us. He whispers his grace to us as he guides our moving and our being. He hears our prayers and cries as we strive to live according to his call.
As we take part in the season of Lent, we cry the words of David in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Our God is ever eager to answer this prayer, and this psalm details that he knows our thoughts, our paths, our getting up and lying down, and our words even before they are on our tongues. In our service and reverence and fasting and mourning, we know that we are “hemmed in, behind and before,” surrounded by the presence of our God who intimately knows and loves us.
And as we participate in disciplines that lead us to reflect on the sufferings of Christ, we see that in his sufferings, Christ also cried out for knowledge of God. Hebrews 5:7 says, “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.” This high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses also humbled himself through obedience to his Father. As he suffered in anguish, he was seen and known by his Father. This Father saved him and exalted him above all things. As brothers and sisters and co-heirs with Christ, we are seen, known, and lifted from our suffering to this same throne of mercy and comfort.
May we humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus as we draw near to this All-knowing Father, this all-powerful cross, and this ever-flowing river of grace.
Prodigal Son image by Rembrandt.
