Jesus knows me this I love

I read that statement in one of the thousands of catalogs that I receive, and it really stood out to me. It is a "switch " of the wording to the song Jesus loves me this I know.
It takes on a whole new meaning when it's worded that way, and I like it just as well or even more than the song. It makes me appreciate the fact that no matter what I do, good, bad or indifferent, that Jesus knows me this I love. Then I have to realize that just because he knows me, doesn't give me the right to make the mistakes and simply excuse it because I know he'll still love me because he knows me... was that confusing?

I realize that because we live in a sin filled world we will have to "face" things, and choose to do the right thing, or fall into the oh well, it's okay, Jesus knows me, he'll forgive me anyway so I'll go ahead and do this one little thing, it's not a bad sin or anything....

No, it's a matter of obedience.

As children we would push our parents to see just how far they would let us go. They would tell us "No, you can't do that because..." and we would go ahead and push the envelope simply to see how far we go against what was originally spoken to us. As adults we tend to do this in similar ways. It doesn't seem like anything bad. It could be something like driving to fast, or not wearing your seat belt. Minor right?

As far as the word of God is concerned, sin is sin. It doesn't have to be anything major (as we measure things) it can be as small as a lie, or making an excuse for not doing something. I have most certainly fallen into this trap in my life. Probably more times that I can count, but it is something we will have to answer to God in the end.

God is not a hard task master, chasing us around with a whip. No, he is a loving Father, and He has given us a set of rules to follow. I have often thought I could picture God watching me do something that is on the "brink of disobedience" looking at me shaking His head, just like we do with our children. Watching to see if we will go ahead and take that cookie we were told we could not have before dinner. I know that I have been one of those children. Pushing to see how far I can go before actually sinning.

Yes, God will forgive us if we ask Him to. He is always watching (we can NEVER hide from Him) He won't force us to do the right thing. He has given us a free will. A will to choose right or wrong. Oh, how I wish I was perfect. It certainly would make life easier, or would it?

Did you know that there are 148 scriptures on obedience? And an additional 20 on disobedience. Hmmmm. Makes you wonder why there are so many. Could it be that we may have problems with obedience?

Did you know that there are 109 scriptures on forgiveness?

One of my favorites being: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our sins from us. Psalms 103:11-12

Psalm 103 (New International Version)
Psalm 103 Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

He doesn't hold them over our head after He forgives us. WOW am I ever thankful for that!