I heard a question from a radio speaker today that really caused me to squirm. The teacher was discussing Peter's denial of Jesus as Jesus was being questioned by the Sanhedrin. He pointed out that Jesus knew Peter's heart even better than Peter himself. In Luke 22:31-34 Peter vehemently vowed never to turn from Jesus. Peter declared he was ready to stand by Jesus, and even die for Him if necessary. But Jesus knew better. 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Jesus knew Peter's heart. He knew what Peter could and would do. So the question asked was "Do you think you know yourself better than Jesus knows you?" That's a deep question. And it can go two ways.
We can be like Peter, puffed up and sure of ourselves....but Jesus knows our weaknesses. He knows our soft spots, faithlessness, selfishness, fears....John 2:23 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
But there is also those of us who go the other direction with that question. Instead of self promoting pride, we hem and haw, talking about how incapable we are, point out every weakness and make every excuse why we cannot do something God asks. We met this dilemma in the first chapter of our study on evangelism last Sunday. Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, all asked by God to speak or act on His behalf. All made excuses why they couldn't. All thought they knew themselves better than God did. God asked Moses to go to Pharaoh. And Moses in his fear told God, "...O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” (Exodus 4:10) It's pretty much the same thing I say when I think of sharing the Gospel.
When asked to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites, Gideon said, "how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” (Judges 6:15) He saw himself as insignificant.
In Jeremiah 1:5-10 the Lord calls Jeremiah to confront the whole nation of Israel, to call them to account for their desertion of their God and the evil practices they had fallen into. Jeremiah said in verse 6, "O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” He thought he was too young, too inexperienced to speak for God.
All these thought they knew themselves better than God. (this is actually another facet of pride btw). And all of them were wrong. I am wrong when I think I know myself better than my Father. The Lord told Jeremiah in verse 5, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Psalm 139:1-2, 13-16 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
13-16 You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
No one knows us, not even we ourselves, better than our Creator, Father and Savior. And in all these cases God reassured His children that He would be with the, He would give them the abilities, the words. He would not leave them floundering. And He gets to call the shots!
So when asked the question, "Do you think you know yourself better than Jesus knows you?" what is your answer? Do you lean towards pride or insecurity? Are either valid when we come before the Lord?
Forgive me Lord, for making it about me when You ask me to do something. I know there is no one who knows me better than You, for You knit me together in my mother's womb. Let me go forward courageously, in obedience, in faith, to do whatever You ask of me. Thank You Lord for Your patience. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Ponder and answer the question.
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