Search Me, O God, And Know My Heart!
19/20 DECEMBER 2020 | TRADITIONAL AND PRAYER & PRAISE SERVICES
Rev Philip Lim
Scripture Passage: Psalm 139:1-16, 23-24 (NIV)
WATCH | SERMON (Video)
(Click on video below)
READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | God knows us through and through. He knows the minutest details of our life -- our hearts, fears, thoughts, motives, dreams, and even our frustrations. God understands us and knows our past, present and future. He notices what’s going on around us and sees all that is taking place within us.
God is always there with us! (v.7-12) We cannot hide or flee from His presence even in the furthest corner of the earth. He is with us even during the darkest moments of our lives.
God keeps us in his sight, not to point out the wrongs we have done or punish us. He seeks to bring us back to the path planned for us, and give us grace as He loves us. He has a plan for each of us. Each one of us is unique and fearfully and wonderfully made, exactly the way he wants us to be (v.13-16).
Are you happy with what you see in the mirror? If you don’t like what you see, take heart. A mirror does not capture an accurate depiction of your image. Most of us have been taking our cues from a world which has different values from God. God gave each of us a personality, talents, spiritual gifts and a particular purpose which sets us apart for Him. We are God’s treasured possession and creation made in His likeness. God did not make a mistake when He created any of us.
Look again in the mirror; God wants to show you a different picture of your life, to help you see the meaning of your life from His perspective. God wants us to look just the way we are, to have exactly the skills and abilities that each of us possesses. It is part of God’s perfect plan. The script for our lives was already written by God, ordaining what will and will not happen.
The Psalmist invites God to search his heart, know his motives, calm his anxious thoughts, show up the wickedness in him, and lead him in the direction God wants him to take (v.23-24).
God knows us intimately and is with us all the time to guide us. He had created us with a purpose for each of our lives. God knows our strengths and weaknesses. It is not about being successful, it is about being faithful. Success will make us think it is the work of our hands; we forget God’s gifts, blessings and plans in our lives. If God calls you to a ministry, don’t treat it like a job. Serving God is a calling.
If we are willing to put ourselves in the hands of God, the Potter, He can make beautiful things out of our lives. God is with us always, helping us do what He wants us to do.
(Sermon Notes by Denis Koh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. God knows you intimately. Are you afraid to be known thoroughly by God? Why and why not? How vulnerable should we be? What principles guide how much we share with others?
2. God is with us all the time. He seeks us out to be involved in our lives. How can a person develop a sense of God’s unshakable presence, so as not to sin?
3. God created us Himself and has a plan for each of our lives. What evidence do you see of God’s hand upon your life? How does truly believing God has ordained your days affect how you make decisions?