THE DETAILS OF EVERY-DAY LIFE
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"You know my down sitting and my uprising. You understand my thought afar off" Psalm 139:2
"You know." Come, my soul, here is a test as to your present spiritual condition! Will you apply it? Will you be weighed in this balance of the sanctuary, and see whether or not you are found lacking? Does your Lord's intimate knowledge of your every thought, and desire, and action, oppress and disconcert you — or are you willing and glad to live under such close inspection, and even to covet the glances of that eye which searches you through and through?
Nothing but "full assurance of faith" in the precious blood shed for you on Calvary — can give you this boldness. Happy are you, my soul, if you know that God looks through Jesus' wounds on you, and through those wondrous windows of ruby — sees you so changed and beauteous that He can say, "You are all beautiful, My beloved, there is no spot in you!"
"My down sitting and my uprising!" Lord, do You love me so much as to watch tenderly over me in such small matters? How the thought comforts me! We do not care about thedetails of the everyday life of strangers; but when we love anyone very dearly — then we take great interest in all that concerns them. And even so, my God, this searching, knowing, understanding, compassing, besetting, laying of Your hand upon me — are all most precious tokens to me of Your unutterable love!
How watchful and careful should this knowledge make me! "My down sitting and my uprising!" My home life! My daily duties, both of work and of leisure! My going out and my coming in, my conduct and bearing under all circumstances! How these are all gathered into the compass of those five words! Lord, help me to walk worthy of You, unto all pleasing!
"You understand my thought afar off." What infinite knowledge! Well may the psalmist say, "It is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it!"
Before I think — God knows my thought! O my soul, are not your thoughts the source of most of your grievous perplexities and sorrows? They are often so unruly and rebellious, sometimes so unholy and profane — that all your efforts to bring them into captivity to the law of Christ are unavailing!
Then, see where your help lies. The God who can understand your thoughts "afar off" has the power to restrain them; nay, more, before they reach you, while they are yet distant and unexpressed, He will purify and cleanse them — so that they shall enter your heart as angel whispers, and pass your lips only as words of love and blessing.
Dear Master, I make Your servant David's prayer — my very own: "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!" Psalm 139:23-24
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