Hey, good morning, everyone. Welcome to another morning devotion with Brother Mark, where we are walking with you on your walk with Christ. Today is February the 11th, 2020. Well, I have a couple of different thoughts on my mind today, and I'm not going to get to both of them. I'm just going to get to Psalm 139 and verse number 14. But before I read that passage, I just want to kind of and let you know, kind of lead you into what I'm thinking about. On Monday mornings, I go to a drug rehab center and I teach two hours of Bible lessons there. On my way to the classes yesterday morning, I was listening to a daily podcast. The podcast is by David Platt. It's called Praying the Word with David Platt. He was talking about this passage of Scripture. The reason he was talking about it was about an event that was going on in his life. But anyway, as I thought about that or as I listened to that podcast, I thought about how that particular passage would be an encouragement to the residents of the rehab center. And so I really left the lesson that I was planning on teaching and decided to teach them about this passage. And I know the reason that this would be an encouragement to them is because of how those residents view themselves. Now, think about that. They're in a residential drug rehab program, and they're there because they have an issue. And you know, I knew that folks who have an addiction, they might have a low view of themselves. they might have a low view of themselves because of some of the sins that they've committed. And I ask them, you know, what are some words that you might use to describe yourself? And you know, a couple of the words that they used to describe themselves was worthless and a waste. Can you imagine what it must be like for someone to go through life and have that thought of themselves that they have no value, they are worthless, and their life is a waste? And you know, I know that our society, it's tough. And sometimes it's difficult for us to see our place in this world and the value that we might have. As a matter of fact, I know that one of Satan's greatest lies today is that He wants people not to see their value. Satan has convinced men that they are nothing but a clump of cells. He's caused them to think that their existence is just a chance happening. And for this reason, men question their purpose and their value in life. We live in a society today where You know, people just don't see the reasons sometimes for living. I heard of a situation today where a high schooler potentially took their own life. You know what saddens our heart, my heart, when I think about and see people who are struggling because they think they have no value. They really don't understand who they are. You know, we are not just a clump of cells with no value or purpose. What we're gonna do is we look at this passage of scripture. We're going to see how David understood himself. So let's look now at Psalm 139 and let's read verse number 14 first. Just let me read to you verses 14 through 16. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also Are thy thoughts unto me, O God? How great is the sum of them. So what did David understand about himself? David understood that he was fearfully and wonderfully made. What David understood is that he was a creation of God. He understood that God had knowledge of him. Even while he was still in his mother's womb, his substance was known to God, even all of his members. What we need to understand from this is that David knew he was a definite creation of God. What we need to understand is this, that just like David was a definite creation of God, he was created on purpose and with a purpose, You know what? So too are we. You're not a chance happening. You're not an accident. You are not just a clump of cells. You are created in the image of God. You are created because God chose to create you and he has a purpose for you. He breathed at your nostrils the breath of life. This is one of my favorite passages of scripture where it says in the book of Genesis, And God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. If you're drawing breath today, it's because God, the creator, breathed into you the breath of life, and he chose to give you life. And so you have value as a creation of God. And God created you on purpose because he chose to create you, and he created you just like he wanted to. You're not an accident. He gave you the gifts he wanted you to have. All of your creation is on purpose by God, and you need to understand that. You have great value to God as part of his creation. So what else did David know about God's knowledge of him? He understood that God thinks of him. Listen to what Albert Barnes has to say concerning this passage. The remark made here doubtless in view of the numberless thoughts involved in planning and forming a frame so wondrous and in the care necessary to bring it to perfection, to develop it, to provide for it, to guard it and defend it. So think about that. Think about all that God had to do to bring you into the world. Man, it's amazing that God chose to do that for you. Barnes goes on to say, how many thoughts of a parent are employed in behalf of his children in providing for them, teaching them, counseling them, anticipating their needs? How many more thoughts are needful on the part of God in reference to each one of us? For there are numberless things necessary for us which cannot occupy the mind of a parent since he cannot accomplish these things for us. They do not lie within his province or in his power. So we understand that God's thoughts for us are greater than a parent for his child. And maybe we could go on and on and on talking about this, but today I want you to understand your value to God. I want you to understand that God's thoughts towards you are many. I want you to understand you are not just a lump of cells, but you are a precious creation of God. View yourself as precious in the eyes of the Lord. View yourself as fearfully and wonderfully made. Understand that to God, you hold great value. Lord, today we thank you for revealing to us your thoughts and your word. Lord, I know Satan wants us to think poorly of ourselves. He wants us to think we have no value in this world. But Lord, thank you for showing us that to you we have value. Lord, thank you for considering our lives. I pray, Lord, that the one today who is questioning their place in the world will understand they are precious in your sight. Encourage your people today with the knowledge of your thoughts towards them. It is in the name of Jesus I pray, amen. Until tomorrow, Pastor Mark signing off.