But He Did Know

You know it. Had they known then what they know now about you, things would have been a lot different. A whole lot different. Because had they known of that hard thing in you, that difficult struggle within you, that painful reality all around you. They wouldn't have chosen you. They wouldn't have picked you or decided for you or agreed to befriend you. They simply wouldn't have.

It's true. You know it. They would have kept their distance, would have stayed their course, and diverted their attention. From you.

Had they really known you.

It's what people do.

Because what attracts and draws near is only ever what is known, what is desirably known. And when the undesirable raises its head, in you, others pull away. They do. People do. So you hide it. You hide the shame and the undesirable. Until it works. And they do pick you. They do decide for you, to befriend you. Your hiding the shameful in you worked to make you desirable, so they chose you.

But, to stay there, to keep there, to remain there. It is oh so hard. For the shame comes out. It cannot stay hidden. And the deep, hidden places that cause fear in you, they do exactly what you fear, they reveal your shame. Eventually. Because you cannot keep the shame hidden.

Now, you, stop! Do not go down that path of hide and seek. Because there is a way out of that game. You must not forget. That shame has no hold on you who are His, you who are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1).

Because. Had Christ known then what He knows now, about you. He still would have loved you. He still would have chosen you, to be His. He wouldn't even have changed a single thing about you, in all His knowing. In fact, had He NOT known about you, things would have then been a lot different. But, because He did know of your deep, deep struggle. Because He did know of the hurt and the pain, of that hard thing in you. He came. Because He knew all that about you, and He still knows, for He has always and will always know. That's why He came.

So it's true. And you know it. Because you needed forgiveness. Because you needed softening and moulding and loving. Because you needed Him. He came. Christ Jesus came.

So that your life could be set free. Free from the shame and the hardness. Free from the pain and the struggles. That He was meant to carry for you, anyways. Then and now. Because He knew then what He knows now, about you. It's why He came. For you.

The perfect Lamb of God came into this world to show you that your life is meant for the One Who fully knew you then and accurately knows you now, and still completely decided to choose you and make you His own.

So you can sing the praises of the Lamb Who was slain! For you.

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"Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" - Revelation 5:11-12

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2

"...but I [Jesus] chose you and appointed you..." - John 15:16