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How well do you know yourself? Written by Bill Bradford
For those of who think we are private individuals, and no one knows about our private lives and our business, there are government agencies which have the potential to know more about us than we would imagine. We are in the throes of trying to find out who the terrorists are among us and prevent them from doing terrible things to us. This is successful to a point as we all know, but there are those no one knows about who operate under the radar. The authorities are evasive about what they actually know, and the general public, though alarmed, seem to allow them more powers for the national safety.
There is One who knows more about us than what we realize. How much do we think about this? "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Heb. 4:13). Are you comfortable with this? I hope you are.
One of the reasons we may be uncomfortable is that we may be doing some things we know we shouldn't do. God, who is all knowing, sees all. We are so fortunate that He also understands our temptations, weaknesses and sins. He has made provision for Himself, as the Holy and Righteous God, to forgive our sins through His Son Jesus Christ. However, if we deny Him, He will also deny us.
How important is it for us to be open with God? There has to be a willingness to confess all to Him, knowing He is the only one who can handle it. It is understandable that we don't divulge all to just anybody. They might not understand.
But this is a good question. How well do others know us? Can we be open with other people, trust them with the knowledge of who we are? I asked a group of thirty men in our Biblical Faith and Speaking Club recently if they thought I was an introvert or an extrovert. To a man they all agreed that I was an introvert. I already had that figured out because my wife has told me that for years, and an early formal assessment of my personality declared me as an introvert. I communicate, but I have to work at it. The point is, people knew me enough that they all agreed. Didn't know it showed that much! This is not an important matter, but it makes the point.
Is this a problem for you? Will some people betray you if they know you well? Yes, some will, and some will stand with you. But we live with that. The one who counts is God who knows everything about us, every word we say and every thought we think and is still willing to be our confidant. And He is willing to be our helper without condemnation. "There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Rom 8:1).
God makes it uncomplicated to approach Him through his Son Jesus Christ. Can you trust him with your feelings, your innermost thoughts? He knows them already. What is important to God is, do you know yourself? So much of our prayers are superficial, like we don't want God to know too much about us. He already does, but God wants you to know yourself. If you have someone, like God, who is able to accept you, warts and all, how much more should we be willing to accept and disclose ourselves to God, warts and all, and make our confession accordingly. This is the first step toward getting rid of the warts.
In this booklet we will examine the Bible's teaching on conversion—it is not just a one-time event. Instead the Scriptures reveal that it is a process. The process begins with God's calling, followed by the key steps of repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, finally climaxing with the return of Jesus Christ — when the dead in Christ are resurrected to immortality and given eternal life — the ultimate transformation!
How is God One? Is God a Trinity? Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Was He a mere man, or much more? What was the significance of His death and resurrection? In this booklet you'll learn more about the nature of God and Jesus Christ and our future destiny with them as revealed in the Bible.
Are you desiring a closer relationship with God? If so, where do you start? What tools can you use to grow spiritually and build that all-important relationship with your Creator? This important study aid will set you on the right path. Read and begin implementing these important elements today!
Where did Jesus Christ come from? Who was He? This is a mystery that far too few really understand. Do you? It does matter - your future and your salvation depend on it!
It’s obvious that our world is plagued with serious problems. Look around at the devastating wars, civil unrest, violent crime, rampant theft, corrupt governments, grinding poverty, hunger, spreading substance abuse, broken homes and families, natural disasters, failing educational systems and much more. These things aren’t new; they’re the sad legacy of human history. Is there any hope that these problems will ever be solved? Believe it or not, there is indeed great hope, and it’s found in the pages of your Bible. It’s called the gospel, a word that means “good news.” And it truly is good news, the message of Jesus Christ’s coming reign over the earth and God’s divine solution to our problems! Learn much more about this wonderful hope and news in the pages of this issue of Beyond Today. Download this issue in PDF. Individual articles will be posted in the upcoming days.