Self-knowledge is hard to come by. Let me sharpen that a bit: Accurate self- knowledge that is redemptive is hard to come by.

Many of us are familiar with 1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That's a promise with great power to set us free from condemnation and feelings of inadequacy.

Do we also consider the preceding verse? "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Or the verse that follows? "If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."

It would be convenient if this text was addressed to non-Christians. We can easily identify their sins. But John doesn't give us that convenient way out. These verses – 8 and 10, not just 9 – are for Christians.

How do we get to the point where we recognize our captivity to sin? How do we overcome our blindness to our own sin? One way is to pray Psalm 139:23-24 – "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."

God knows us through and through. He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts, the ones we are aware of and the ones we hide even from ourselves. God is willing to share that knowledge with us. When he does we get that "accurate and redemptive" self-knowledge I mentioned above. Occasionally enemies will point out our sin, but their objective is our destruction, our condemnation. God seeks to increase our self- knowledge so we can use it to his advantage – which is also to our advantage.

In John 8 we read Jesus saying, "If you hold to my teaching, then you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." How do we come to know the truth about ourselves? How can we experience real life and freedom? Jesus says, "Hold to my teaching." Another way to out that: "Do what I say. Walk with me. Walk in the light as I am in the light."

Lent is a season of repentance. Accurate and redemptive self-knowledge can help us repent well. Disciplines of letting go (refraining from something) and taking up (starting to do something) can help us in that process. Lent begins Ash Wednesday. Our Ash Wednesday service will be 6pm on February 18. It's a great way to seriously pursue life in the way of Jesus, a life free of condemnation and tending toward holiness.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Rev. Richard Heyduck