How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:17
Last year, I was gifted a pair of AirPods, and I use them every single day. I use them to listen to music, use them when I exercise, and use them when I talk on the phone. These AirPods are extremely valuable to me not only because of how often I use them but also because I know they are not cheap. Because of this, I am careful with them. I make sure that I do not lose them. Why? It is simple. We take care of and protect what is valuable to us. If we care for material possessions that we see as valuable, such as silly AirPods, how much more should we care for people? Each person we lock eyes with is infinitely more valuable than the most valuable material possession we could ever have.
Scripture teaches that every person on earth is extremely valuable to God. David wrote about this truth in Psalm 139. Throughout this Psalm, David recounts the fact that God knows him completely and loves him. He writes about the fact that God created him and has a masterful plan for his life. As he writes, he declares, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (verse 14). A little further on in this chapter, David declares, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered” (verse 17). David was convinced that because he was created by God, the Supreme Creator, he was valuable. In fact, God’s thoughts about him were precious. The same thing is true for each and every person on earth because God created them. God created each person on earth with uniqueness and intentional design. Because of this, His thoughts about them are precious.
Because each and every person is valuable to God, they should be valuable to us, as well. This means we treat them as valuable. It means that we are to treat them with kindness. After all, you take care of and protect the things that are valuable, and human beings are of utmost value.
When we interact with other people, may our motto be, “They matter to God, so they matter to me.”
Let’s make it our mission to remind people just how valuable they are, one by one. Start today by thinking of one person you know who needs to hear just how valuable they are to God and to you. Tell them how valuable they are, and then do one thing to show kindness to them today. It may be as simple as learning an acquaintance’s name and showing them kindness and respect.
Read Psalm 139:1-24 (NLT)
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!And when I wake up, you are still with me!
O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name.O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
