KNOW YOURSELF

Tuesday 28 January

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20 (ESV)

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Colossians 3:9-10

Have you ever heard someone talk about going on a journey of self discovery? There is a term bandied about called ‘your authentic self’ and many are desperately trying to find themselves in the labyrinth of ideologies and mantras that are frequently purported in an increasingly self seeking society.

In the midst of all this individualism, people develop strong opinions about who they are, what they believe, their likes and dislikes etc. Many fail to recognise the myriad of informational and environmental factors that have shaped and underpinned their reasoning since they were born into this world.

Now I’m not saying it’s a detrimental exercise to know yourself; I’m simply asking which self are you getting to know?

Furthermore the only way to change these factors is to receive salvation and ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ through the Word of God.

Before salvation there is only one self that you can know. The fallen, sinful version. Despite your best efforts to ‘save yourself’ from your sin nature, it is impossible to do so. The good news is there is grace for you in Christ for forgiveness of sins and to be made right with God.

Once you have accepted Jesus and His work of salvation you are confronted with ‘two selves’. One that is dead and one that is alive.

2 Corinthians 5:17b ‘Old things are passed away’ that includes the old you. ‘All things are become new’ that includes the new you.

Now it should be obvious as to which one we would choose to live our lives by doesn’t it? So why are there so many Christians acting and talking like the ‘dead guy’ and not the guy that is alive and well in Christ? Ignorance and deception. These are the only two plausible options. I guess the third could be stupidity but let’s leave that one alone.

Question: how can a believer live like the ‘alive guy’ if they don’t know anything about him, haven’t been taught properly about him or doubt that he actually exists. Ignorance of God’s Word is the problem. The revelation of the New Creation in the epistles is vital if you want to know the ‘self’ you should be emulating.

Deception is also a huge problem that hinders people seeing themselves as the ‘alive guy’ in Christ. For example the Bible says you are a saint, a holy one but you don’t feel that way so you look for someone to tell you how much of a sinner you are so you can feel better about yourself. I know right; Religion is utter nonsense.

There is a simple remedy to these things. Are you ready for it? Here it is. Only think and speak and act in accordance to who God says you are, what God says you have, and what God says you can do. This is how you ‘know yourself’ in the Kingdom. Don’t say ‘I know myself, I’m always sick and I always get sick because that’s just who I am.’ This is how you overthrow your spirit. When you hold your knowledge of ‘the dead guy’ who used to get sick, superior to ‘the alive guy’ who never gets sick because he is healthy and sound as the Bible declares.

Say ‘I know myself’, I’m wise and make wise decisions because ‘Christ has been made unto me wisdom’.

‘I know myself’ Satan is under my feet because ‘I have been given authority to tread upon all the power of the enemy’.

‘I know myself’, I am safe and secure in Christ because ‘nothing can snatch me out of Jesus and the Father’s hand’.

When you think, talk and act like this you are getting to know your ‘authentic self’ in Christ, the real you. Be smart and choose ‘alive guy’ and leave ‘dead guy’ where he belongs, in the past.

Don’t let your heart (soul) condemn you. Let your spirit take over. Don’t lie to yourself about who you really are, tell the truth to yourself always about who God says you are. Know yourself.

APPLICATION

See who you are in Christ and who God says you are in Christ through the revelation of the man in Christ in the epistles.