From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Jesus knows us well

Most people, even those with "low self esteem", don't really think of themselves as being "all that bad."  We can know that's true by realizing how hard it is for most people to really admit they are sinners worthy of an eternity in Hell.  Jesus knows differently, though; HE knows us well.

We judge ourselves by what we allow others to see, our outer personna, if you will.  God, though, looks at the real, inner person, down where we don't even like to look, ourselves.  One example of this is found when Samuel was trying to pick which of Jesse's sons was the one God told him would be the next king of Israel.  He looked at the oldest, a tall, good looking, well built guy, and said, "surely this is the one; he looks the part."  We read God's reply:


But the Lord said unto Samuel, "look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 UKJV)  Jesus showed this knowledge of our hidden self and its true motivations in the following passage: While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, many people believed (with a head, not heart, belief) in His Name because they saw the signs that HE was doing.  Jesus, however, did not entrust Himself to them, because HE knew all people and didn't need any one to tell Him what people were like.  For HE Himself knew what was in every person.  (John 2:23-25 ISV)

We tend to do the same as Samuel, we don't look down deep in the recesses of others' hearts, much less our own, but hearing God's Word and our response to it reveals the truth of our heart's condition.  Scripture tells us the Word of God is like a razor sharp sword that cuts down to the true self and reveals its thoughts and intents, as we read in Hebrews 4:12.  Let me show you one Bible example of this: All the people began to speak well of him and to wonder at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth. They said, "This is Joseph's son, isn't it?"  (Luke 4:22 ISV)  Jesus had quoted Isaiah 61:1-2, speaking of His first coming in grace.  That passage speaks of His bringing healing and deliverance, sight to the blind, etc.  They liked hearing that kind of stuff; it made those Israelites (the Jewish people) feel good, so they spoke well of Him.  HE then began to remind them that, just because they were of Jewish descent, they wouldn't automatically receive those blessings, as HE recited facts about the prophet Elijah's ministry, who didn't work certain miracles among them because of their unbelief, but did for some Gentile people.  Those words offended their pride, as it revealed grace is given to those who believe and receive it as grace, totally undeserved and is not automatically given to one because of his birth status.  We read then that: All the people in the synagogue became furious when they heard this.  They got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the edge of the hill on which their city was built, intending to throw him off of it.  (Luke 4:28-29 ISV)  The truth of Scripture made them now try to kill Jesus, when just a moment before, they were saying how wonderful HE was.

We, all of us, are really and truly sinners deserving of God's wrath, death and suffering in the Lake of Fire as our just punishment for sin and rejection of the offer of His Son as our substitute.  We do not want to admit this.  We prefer to hear what we want to hear, words that stroke and caress us, as they tell us we are all good and rightfully deserve wonderful things from God's hand.  The Bible spoke of our current time, when it predicted a day when people would seek out only those "teachers" who would "scratch our itching ears" with their lies.  Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:3 said: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 

We may not want to hear it, but God's Word is eternal, it will not "go away and leave us alone."  We will one day have to admit its truth, so; why not do it now, while we have the option of embracing it and thereby receive its blessings, and not be on the, "Sorry, it's too late!" side as we endure our just punishment?  The Bible tells us, after it tells us of its ability to cut down and reveal the true condition of our inmost being, that:  No creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.  (Hebrews 4:13)

If you are a "born again Christian" (if you are not born again, you are not really a Christian, no matter what you call yourself), don't just read the Words of God that please you.  Get down and deal with the ones that tell you what you need to deal with in your life.  Let God do His "surgery" on you with His "scalpel" (Hebrews 4:12) and cut out what is hindering your walk with Him.  If you are not, and you are on this website out of curiosity, or because you call yourself "Christian", won't you deal with the truth that you do not deserve God's blessing, but His wrath, by confessing that fact to Him and calling upon Him to save you?  HE will , if you ask and believe Him to.  Romans 10:9-13 tells you: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (He is truly God, Who says you are a sinner) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (after He died paying the penalty for your and my sin), you will be saved.  For with the heart (not the mind) one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame."  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek (Gentiles, those who were not born in the Jewish race); the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.  For "everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. That is the way to be born again.

My prayer for you is that you will, no matter what your spiritual condition, get into God's Word, the Holy Bible, and read it with the full belief that it is "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."  If you will, you will learn much about yourself and God.  Let Him do His perfect work in you.  He knows you "inside and out" and knows exactly what you need.  Remember, "Jesus knows us well!"

Ben

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