As a child I recall my mother saying, from time to time, "Gordon Rumford I know what you are thinking." It baffled me that she could read my thoughts somehow. Well, as I grew older I learned that no one can invade the privacy of a person's mind. All of us can retreat into our thoughts and it is impossible for a person to know all that we think.

As we continue looking at how our Lord viewed Himself, we see a startling thing He did to the teachers of the law in our verses for today. Jesus had just told the man that He forgave him his sins.

The teachers present did not speak up and accuse Jesus of blasphemy publicly. However, they thought to themselves that Jesus had certainly taken to Himself the privilege only God possesses. They knew that God alone could forgive sins but here Jesus was taking this right to Himself. Hence they thought He blasphemed.

Jesus then does this miraculous thing of immediately reading their thoughts. The text does not say that Jesus "guessed" what the men were thinking, rather that He immediately knew their thoughts.

What about Jesus? What are we to do with this kind of evidence? Think of the words of scripture where it says "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." Psalm 139:1-4 (NIV)

God reads my thoughts and yours. This is the plain teaching of the Bible. Did these men not remember these verses that day when Jesus did the miracle of reading their thoughts? Could they not get the message that He was God in human form and therefore no blasphemy was committed when He forgave the man his sins?

Sadly, in their determination to discredit Jesus, the lesson that taught them about who Jesus was escaped their attention. Jesus did two things that day to establish that He was God, but both actions were wasted on those who sought to discredit Him.

What about Jesus? Will you see Him as your rightful Lord and Master? Will you recognize His authority over your life today? Will you take your suffering and your sorrow that haunts and pursues you every waking hour and bring it to Jesus? Will you say to Him, "My Lord and my God."?

Come and lay yourself before this One Who reads your thoughts before they are formed in your mind. Say to Him, "Your will be done." He is worthy of all your trust and confidence. If you come humbly He will never turn you away. Come to Him and come today.