You know my thoughts

Psalms 139:2-4

You know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all.

At first glance this reading is kind of creepy.  Creepy in the same way that stories about Santa Clause used to creep me out.  He sees you when you sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good. That kind of big brother type of creepy.

But with God it really isn't like that.  As a father I love my children and would give anything to know where they are at all times.  I would love to know my children's wants and needs and what their thoughts are so that I can take any appropriate parental actions based on these things. 

Luke 11:11-12 What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?

It's the same with God.  This isn't some sort of creepy monitoring us to punish us when we mess up.  It's a love that is stronger than anything!  

The English language has one word for love.  This love describes how you feel about your spouse, your children, a piece of pizza when you are hungry.  Love can get lost in it's overuse sometimes.

The Greeks knew this better, the had a few words for love:

• Philia This is the love you would have for a friend.  Somebody you hang out with, go fishing wish, enjoy talking to.  I fear even today with all of our Facebook "friends" this word would be watered down a bit!
• Eros This is the love that should be reserved for a husband and wife.  The term 'erotic' comes from the word eros.
• Storge This is the type of love you would have for your children.
• Agape This is a perfect love that God has for all of us.  It is God's self sacrificing love for all of humankind.

Agape love is why God knows and cares when we sit and when we stand.  It is why God sent his son Jesus to us: John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

I hope that we can all realize God's love for us and that this realization will help us better to seek Him, follow Him and to love Him back.