Thought for the Day - june 25

Jeremiah 23:24 (New Living Translation)   Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. I find it quite a sobering thought that God is ‘everywhere in all the heavens and the earth’ as per today’s reading.  From our point of view it becomes even more of a challenge when we find out that he also knows what we are thinking as well as seeing the things we do.  In the following parts of the gospels (Matthew 9:4; 12:25; Luke 9:47; 11:17), Jesus is preaching to the crowds which also included rulers from the temple and in all four instances, Jesus knew what they were all thinking and answered their questions before they had the chance or the courage to put them to him.  This ability is known as omniscience.  I’ve heard this word used in the past but this is the first time I’ve gone to the bother of actually finding out what it meant. As Christians, I take it that for all of us who stand under this banner, one of our purposes is to behave in ways that will please God i.e. to think, say and do the right thing as opposed to the wrong thing.  Most of us know what the ‘right thing’ looks like due to what our parents and teachers have taught us along with what we learn from the bible.  There’s very few instances when any of us can hold up our hands and say ‘I didn’t know what I said or did was wrong’.  So why do we keep doing it? Fortunately we are blessed by having a God and Saviour that are well aware of our weaknesses and can forgive us when we fall short of what is required.  Were it not so, where would we stand? There’s an old hymn that used to be sung regularly that we don’t hear so much these days that have words appropriate to adults as well as children relevant to today’s topic . 1 God is always near me, hearing what I say, knowing all my thoughts and deeds, all my work and play. 2 God is always near me; in the darkest night He can see me just the same as by mid-day light. 3 God is always near me, though so young and small; not a look or word or thought, but God knows it all. Prayer Omniscient God, Thank you for being there for us at all times, the times when we call on you for help and the times when we would prefer you to look the other way.  Instil this awareness of your constant presence upon us all so that we would stop and consider this more often before we think, say and do the things we know in our hearts you would not approve of.   Amen