He Sees You
by Annalene Holtzhausen
This chapter in the Bible gives us an account of John testifying about Jesus being the true Light that has come into the world (John 1:9). John boldly shares that he came to make the way straight for the Lord (verse 23) and, through John’s testimony, some of his disciples chose to follow Jesus. Jesus then left for Galilee where He found Philip, who also responded to Jesus’ call to follow Him.
When Philip subsequently found Nathanael, he immediately told him about finding the One the prophets had written about and invited him to meet Jesus. In verse 47 we read that Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and said of him: “Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor duplicity!”. Nathanael then responds in surprise as we read in today’s scripture and Jesus acknowledges him in such a special way. Nathanael honours Jesus as the Son of God; the King of Israel (verse 49).
Jesus knew Nathanael long before He even met him. He knew him intimately and saw his true character. Don’t we all long to be known so intimately and acknowledged for who we are? Even though we serve the Lord and want His glory first of all, the Lord also created us to need nurture through encouragement and acknowledgement, to know that He notices and that we matter to Him. That small, still voice in our inner man is enough to spur us on to even greater things.
The Lord created us for relationship and an integral component of this is to be nurtured by those in our lives. Nurturing feeds our soul and heals many wounds, because it speaks of God’s deep love for us. It touches into our deepest parts and helps us develop and grow into who God planned for us to be long before we were even born.
Even though many of us are blessed with loving families and friends, whom we trust and who know us well, not many of these people will know us intimately and know the deepest parts of our hearts. Misunderstanding can still creep in and intentions are sometimes wrongly interpreted.
The only One who really knows us completely, is our Maker. He sees who we are on the inside. He knows our every thought, and He sees our hearts and our intentions. He knows us - deeply and intimately. He acknowledges us for who we are and believes the very best of us. He knows what we are capable of in His strength and believes in us.
Knowing this - that someone really knows us and sees us - enables us to walk in confidence and victory. It brings a smile to our face that no man can bring. It brings wholeness to our once restless souls and quietens the voice of the accuser. I am loved. I am seen by the Almighty One. I have a purpose. I belong to Him.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You! Knowing that You really see me and know me, has brought wholeness to my heart. Help me from this day, to really see the people You have placed in my life, and to speak Your nurture to them. Turn my thoughts away from myself, give me the right words and help me to pour Your nurture into others as You have done for me. Amen.
Annalene Holtzhausen is on the Associate Team at Ellel, Africa. She is married to Renier, who introduced her to Ellel Ministries. She is a full-time mother to their two boys. Her passion is for the restoration of women’s hearts and for people to find their worth in the Lord.
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