Excerpt from Psalm 4
"Know this: the Lord takes personal care of the faithful." (CEB)
Reflection by William C. Green
It's one thing to know we are loved and respected, another to act on it. But the less we act on it, the less we know it. What does love or respect mean if it's just left sitting there? Like a gifted musician or a skilled athlete, if we don't use our gifts they waste away and we wonder if we have what it takes to perform well.
Another way of looking at it might be to consider ourselves recipients of a large check made out to us. What if I failed to cash it?
So it is with God's promise to take personal care of us. Today's verse says "know this." Knowledge in the Bible is active not passive. Knowing is doing. We cannot really know love, respect, talent, skill, or gifts of any sort (including money), until we quit puzzling and do something about them.
What of those who are destitute, unable to know and do much of anything that shows God's personal care? Aren't they faithful enough? Or maybe they're not faithful at all? Those questions need to be asked of us. How are we acting on the love and care we're given to know? God's personal care does not just drop down from the sky. It works within us, for us, and then through us for others, whatever their circumstances. When we plant the seeds, God reaps the harvest. God personally cares for all of us.
Prayer
Make known through me your personal care of us all. Amen.
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