A
thought by Steven Furtick, (2016-03-01) from his book, (UN)Qualified: How God Uses Broken People to Do Big Things (p. 66).
The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book
to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
We want so
much to understand ourselves, don’t we?
It is important for us to really know ourselves but the key two words
here are “in part.”
Steven says,
“Sure, even without God we can understand ourselves, in part. We can explore
our temperaments and personalities. We can define our likes and dislikes. We
can list our aptitudes and ineptitudes. We can feel our way through our
emotional labyrinths and delve deep into our buried traumas. There is a place
for all that. I’m not against counselors or psychiatrists or self-help. They
exist precisely because this whole question of identity is so deeply ingrained
in us.”
But he goes
on to say, “But apart from God, it’s impossible to get a clear picture of who
we are, because our identity is so
intimately and intricately and inseparably bound to his.”
He does say,
“That’s not a particularly popular concept in a culture defined by self. A
culture absorbed with image and polish and poise. A culture obsessed with
casting off restraint and controlling one’s own destiny. But in reality it is
incredibly freeing.” Now what does he
mean by that, “in reality it is incredibly freeing” ?
He then tells us, “When
you discover who God is, you discover who you are. And when you discover who
you are, you no longer have to struggle with the insecurity and self-promotion
that define much of society. You no longer have to strain to measure up, to
qualify. You are free to be yourself.” “You
are free to be yourself.”
The Apostle
Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians in the NT, chapter 13, verse
12 (KJV), “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I
know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”
Steven then says,
“I am… known. By whom? A patient,
kind, omniscient God. Looking at yourself through any other window guarantees a
distorted picture.”
I want to
see myself clearly. Don’t you?
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