I Know You

Have you ever really stopped to think about the God of the universe really knowing who you are? I know He knows me. But I 'know' a lot of people. Sometimes I think our crazy lives all too often aid in us not really understanding some pretty cool things. Like God truly knowing us. Our 300+ 'friends' on facebook, myspace, or whatever other social networking site there is fly in the face of really truly knowing who someone is. I'm guilty too. I have 333 friends on facebook. Do I know every single one of them? Yes. But do I truly know who they are? No. And believe me, there's a vast difference.

I really hadn't given it much thought until last night during our Night of Worship at church. I was sitting there listening to the choir sing Not Guilty and the chorus hit me. I mean, flat out hit me smack dab in the face.

God knows me.

He knows everything there is to know about me. He knows my every thought. He knows my dreams, my fears, my aspirations. He knows the little things that send me over the edge. He knows how many times I blink, how many hairs are on my head, He knows my every breath.

He knows me.

He doesn't just know about me. He knows the real me. He knows my heart, my intentions, how I function. My failures.

Wow. He knows my failures.

And there are a lot of them. He knows each time He tells me to do something and I ignore Him. He knows each time I hurry through reading a few chapters to make myself feel better for fitting Him into my day. He knows when I'm impatient, which is a lot. He knows when I fly off the handle because of something trivial. He knows when I'm selfish and put myself above others. He knows each and every time I choose not to submit to my husband. He knows each and every single time I sin.

And He loves me anyway.

I can't even comprehend that. My human nature is to back away from people who hurt me, ignore me, don't invest enough time in my life.....

But not Him.

Not only does He know me, but He knew me long before I even came into existence. He knew ahead of time what a rotten, sinful person I would be and yet He came anyway. He paid the ultimate price so that I could stand before Him one day and hear "Not Guilty". Knowing well ahead of time that I would fail Him time and time again, He loved my in spite of myself.

He knew me.

He still knows me.

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Here are the lyrics to the song, Not Guilty. To listen to Mandisa sing it, click on the title.

Not Guilty

I stand accused
There's a list a mile long
Of all my sins
Of everything that I've done wrong
I'm so ashamed
There's nowhere left for me to hide
This is the day
I must answer for my life

My fate is in the Judge's hands
But then He turns to me and says

Chorus
I know you
I love you
I gave My life to save you
Love paid the price for mercy
My verdict not guilty

How can it be?
I can't begin to comprehend
What kind of grace
Would take the place of all my sin

I stand in awe
Now that I have been set free
And the tears well up as a look at that cross
'Cause it should have been me

My fate was in the nail scarred hands
He stretched them out for me and said

Chorus

I'm falling on my knees to thank You
With everything I am I'll praise You
So grateful for the words I heard You say

Chorus