For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13-14, ESV
We don’t know our own bodies as much as we might like to think we do.
God, however, knows us intimately – mind, body, soul – and we have been called by Him to know Him.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:11, ESV
Too much knowledge puffs up, and we like to think we know more than we do. Then we copy what feels right to us rather than what may be true. Let us seek God and His wisdom, knowing that He alone is good and true.
Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in
Isaiah 40:21-22, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
We think that our sin will go unnoticed by God, that there isn’t really anything He can do against us.
We think that God is impotent, powerless, and unable to hold us accountable for our sin. This is evidenced in the way we live, how we talk, what we do, ignoring His ways, saying “He’ll forgive me” or “I can do what I want.”
But this is the God who can create everything from nothing, hold everything together and within His hands, and stretches out the univers with those same hands.
Yes, we are basically nothing compared to Him, but God intimately knows every part of His Creation, from the farthest flung stars to our innermost thoughts.
He knows how the cosmos work, and He knows our every sin, our every rebellion against Him.
Yet, God came to us, showing usthat He is a personal and loving Creator, becoming like one of us to show His might over even our rebellion and sin.
We therefore prepare ourselves by admitting we don’t understand as much as we think we do, turning to our Creator and Savior who became our example and demonstrated His vast power over our own vast stubbornness.
May we seek the Lord who has no reason to consider us, yet He still lavishes His love and grace on and in us.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:3-4, ESV
God created all of space, matter, and time, from the largest galaxy cluster to the tiniest speck of matter and beyond.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:7-8, ESV
God knows what we need, so we do not need to try to please Him with many words or flowery speech. He lives in us by the Holy Spirit, so He helps us to ask.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4, ESV
God knows all things from beginning to end and directed history, guiding His prophets and apostles to point us to His truth, reminding us of His promises and faithfulness.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!