God is All-Knowing

"Do not look at his appearance

or at the height of his stature,

because I have rejected him;

for God sees not as man sees,

for man looks at the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks at the heart."

I Samuel 16:7

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God looks at and sees into our hearts. That can be a frightening or a comting reality, depending on the condition of our hearts. Frightening if we are not walking with God and being obedient. Comforting if we are walking as one with God and doing what He wants us to do. But there is another facet of God looking into our hearts that has served as a great encouragement to me over the years. Our heavenly Father knows what is best. Period! End of story. He looks deep within our souls. He sees clearly and accurately what is going on there. That means that He knows. He knows what we need even more than we do. He knows what is lacking and what spiritual food is needed to nourish our faith. He knows exactly what kind of circumstances and tests are needed to strengthen our convictions and revitalize our relationship with Him. And He knows what corrections and disciplines are required to conform us to the image of His Son. Only God knows. That is something that you and I must believe and understand.

I suppose that's what it comes down to in the end. Faith, really, faith in God. Either we believe that God is the loving, concerned, ever-present and the all-knowing Father He declares Himself to be, or we don't. Either we accept the fact that He wants the best for us and knows how to give it to us or...we reject the scriptural fact of His all-knowing-ness entirely. But in the end, if we understand that God looks into our hearts and knows...well, Everything! We will believe in Him and rely on Him and wherever He leads us...we will follow.

I've been a Christian for twenty-eight years and I realize now more than ever that I don't know everything like I once thought I did. I certainly don't know, like God knows, what is going on in my own heart. And because I am O-so human, frail, and finite, I don't always know what is best for me. That's one of the reasons why you and I have to pursue God. We need to believe that He is exactly who He declares Himself to be. We have to believe that He will do what He promises. When He says that He looks into our hearts...and He declares Himself to be all-knowing...via a conscious decision on our part, we have to believe what He says is true. We must deliberately put our trust in Him. The person of God...He is our only hope.

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Once touched by truth,

A little thing like faith is easy.

Enger

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God is All-Knowing

Exercise

1. Describe what you consider to be the "ideal" friend.

2. Is Jesus your friend? Explain how His friendship operates in your life.

3. Does what you know about the person help you relate better to that person?

Explain your answer.

4. Jesus knows everything! Everything about who you are, what you think, what

your dreams and ambitions are, and what you do. What do you think about

that? How does that make you feel?

5. How is Jesus' all-knowing-ness a good thing?