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Known & Accepted

Submitted by: Vincent Cervantes

Psalm
139:1‐6,
13‐18

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Text of sermon:

When I was asked if I would give the sermon for this particular Sunday I must admit that I was rather nervous and apprehensive. Today we observe Human Relations Day, a time to look at ourselves and the relationships we have with one another. When I went over the readings for this week, I knew that God would want me to share what this passage means to me. 

The first section of this Psalm is really trying to get across the idea of how well we are known by God. You can almost imagine the Psalmist (which in this passage is David) smiling to himself at his discovery that God knows him so intimately.

“Lord, you have searched me and known me, you know when I sit down and rise up, you search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways, Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely” (v. 1‐4) 

There
is
such
a
sense
of
excitement
and
joy
that
comes
through
the
words,
that
he
says
to himself,
it’s
too
much
for
me,
I
cannot
get
my
head
around
the
fact
that
you
know
me
so well,
God. 

And
I
wonder
how
many
of
us
here
have
that
feeling
of
being
known
intimately
by
God? 

And
if
any
of
us
have
that
feeling
of
being
known,
the
next
question
is
whether
that
is something
that
makes
you
excited
and
happy,
like
our
friend
David,
or
whether
it
is something
that
unnerves
you
or
even
frightens
you?

We
are
told
that
God
is
“acquainted
with
all
our
ways”
and
discerns
our
thoughts.

It
has
the potential
to
sound
a
little
bit
scary.

A
bit
like
someone
is
watching
you
…
all
the
time
…

But
I
would
like
to
protest
that
God
is
not
a
giant
surveillance
camera
in
the
sky;
our
ways, our
thoughts,
and
so
on
are
not
going
to
be
mysteriously
reported
to
the
authorities.
God
is not
waiting
to
tell
tales
on
us.

(Although
I’m
not
sure
whom
God
would
report
to
if
that was
the
case!)

God
does
know
us,
but
God
accepts
us
as
we
are.

This
Psalm
concerns
itself
with
celebrating
God’s
love
and
acceptance
of
us
as
creations
of God.

So
maybe
God
is “acquainted
with
all
our
ways,”
but
what
does
that
matter
if
we
don’t
know that
we
are
accepted
by
God?

The
more
I
live
my
life
and
work
in
communities,
I
become
more
sure
that
one
of
the
most deep‐rooted
problems
in
our
society
is
people’s
inability
or
unwillingness
to
accept
and love
themselves.

Daily
I
see
such
deep‐rooted
unhappiness,
and
it
manifests
itself
in
all
kinds
of
ways
and through
all
kinds
of
avenues.
People
who
are
hell‐bent
on
self‐destruction,
completely wrapped
up
in
anger
or
lifelong
guilt‐trips,
people
who
are
out
to
destroy
things
and
other people
because
they
cannot
accept
themselves
for
who
they
are.

We
are
invited
by
this
Psalmist’s
beautiful
words
to
really
deepen
our
relationship
with Christ
as
someone
who
knows
us
completely
and
loves
us
as
we
are.

There
are
no
secret sections
of
ourselves
hidden
from
God,
we
cannot
introduce
ourselves
to
God
as
the
person we
want
to
be
tomorrow,
or
next
week,
nor
can
we
pretend
that
we
are
someone
we
are not.

God
knows
us
and
loves
us
now,
at
this
moment,
in
all
our
glory
and
in
all
our
shame.

The
question
is,
really,
whether
we
are
able
to
or
want
to
accept
this
offer
and
let
God’s hand
(the
same
God
who
is
acquainted
with
all
our
ways)
rest
upon
us
and
fill
us
with
a peaceful
love
for
ourselves
as
God’s
beautiful
creations.

And
if
we
do
choose
to
accept
ourselves
as
creations
of
God,
we
can
then
spend
some
time seeing
ourselves
as
fearfully
and
wonderfully
made.

Our
Psalmist
says:

“For
it
was
you
who
formed
my
inward
parts;
you
knit
me
together
in
my
mother’s womb.
I
praise
you,
for
I
am
fearfully
and
wonderfully
made.”

What
a
wonderful
and
frightening
conclusion
to
come
to.

How
different
our
world
would
be,
I
wonder,
if
we
were
able
to
see
ourselves
and
the others
around
us
as
wonderful
creations
of
God?

And just as we are wonderfully made, the Psalmist uses the words “fearfully made”—quite an interesting description. But I think this hints towards the seriousness of creation. It is not something to be taken lightly or regarded with disdain.

We have been made into powerful beings, and yet we have been given choices.

We are fearfully made, and as we recognize ourselves as God’s creations, let us take seriously the lives that we have been given and use them as God desires—to love our neighbor as ourselves, the most important commandment of all, and to act as servants to one another.

Last April, I had the privilege of attending the United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Attending General Conference was a rewarding experience. I learned a lot about myself and about the church… Overall my experiences at General Conference were rather indescribable. This past April there was a very important issue that was taken to the plenary floor.

[Ex temporaneous reflection from plenary floor]

And as we turn our thoughts and our praise to our creator, let us remember that, while we are each a unique creation, we are but one part of a wider creation.

An acceptance of ourselves as God’s beautiful creation does not come without responsibility.

If we are children of God, we are called to be guardians of creation.

As we learn that we are known and loved, let us use some of the life‐giving energy from that to turn some of our attention outwards towards the rest of creation.

Today in the United Methodist Church we observe “Human Relations Day.” A day to recognize the right of all God’s children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other. Every one of God’s children deserves justice and equality. Every one of God’s children deserves to open doors to success.

We are but one part—an important part, but still just one part—of this wider world that is also fearfully and wonderfully made. 

God calls us to look at the world through Christ’s eyes. If we truly do, then we will see ourselves and others as beautiful creations of God, and then we will be able to take on our role as guardians and lovers of creation.