Self-awareness comes from humility and leads to humility. When we know our capacity for holiness we focus on walking with the truth (God) and doing that which is true
By Sam Amadi
In John chapter 13 a paragraph stands out. “Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God…..” These statements unlocks the secret of successful journey towards glory and righteousness. In fact, the secret of any truly successful life. That secret is self-awareness. Humility comes from self-awareness. Only those who truly know themselves and their environment can be truly humble. Jesus knowing that he came from God; that his father- God has given him everything and that he is going back to his father displaced the greatest act of servant leadership. Why did Jesus stoop so low to wash the feet of his disciples just like servants do? Because he gained acute insight into his relationship with God, understood his responsibility to others and his mission on earth he could so easily act as a servant. The motivation for this act of utmost service is clear awareness of his relationships, responsibilities and dependencies. Jesus is sent by God. He is accountable to God for whatever he does on earth. He has been sent to redeem the earth through sacrificial love. He is going to depart the earth and back to his father soon.
That self awareness conditioned him to act in the most unusual manner. The disciples who did not gain such acute self-awareness could not understand the rationale for such an extreme act of service. They were seeing their relationship with Jesus in the traditional Rabbi and follower relationship. They did not see the relationship of redemptive brotherhood which Jesus presents. They did not understand how everyone of them stands before God. That awareness came after the master had died, resurrected and ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit from Jesus filled the disciplines with new wisdom and understanding. Thereafter, Peter and the rest of the disciples could act exactly like Jesus. Because they have gained this unusual insight about who they are in relation to God and one another.
This self awareness is the secret of holiness. Paul asked the Christians to reckon themselves as dead to sin so that unrighteousness will no longer reign in their mortal bodies. If they don’t gain a clear and compelling awareness that in the death of Christ they have died to sin and now live in righteousness in the resurrection of Christ they will no be able to live holy. They will continue to be subdued by sin. When through focus on the word of God and worshipful devotion to God we attain the same level of awareness as Christ we will operate in the same level of holiness. This is therefore the life of faith. A life defined by clear and compelling awareness of who we are and who God is to us. Bible declares that Abraham, the father of faith, believed God and it was counted for him as righteousness. Why did he manifest such unusual faith? Because he attained an unusual understanding of the glory, power and faithfulness of God and the purpose of God for his life. He was willing to sacrifice his only son- Isaac because he ‘reckoned’ that God is able to bring Isaac back from the death. He knew God is able and faithful to perform his promises to him. God had promised that his generations will start from Isaac. Therefore God will bring him back from the dead.
The Greek philosopher, Pythagoras, is reputed to have counsel that “man know thyself”. Good self knowledge needs sincerity and humility. We need to listen to feed backs. The greatest feedback is the testimony of the spirit of God that cannot lie. Jesus refused to accredit himself. He looked to the testimony (feedback) from others. He asked his disciples to relay the opinions people have expressed about him. Even though he knew his holiness and the sinfulness of the Jewish traduced he cared enough for their opinions and those of his disciples. That is humility and sincerity. But above all, he was not under any illusion where the ultimate feedback should come from. It is the testimony of God through the Holy Spirit that counts most.
Self-awareness comes from humility and leads to humility. When we know our capacity for holiness we focus on walking with the truth (God) and doing that which is true. When we understand our fragility and frailty we are humble enough to listen to other, tolerate their failures and love them in spite of all the warts. May God help me so that like Jesus Christ I can gain acute self-awareness so that I can walk in holiness like Jesus Christ did.
Col 2: 20-23 and 3:1-17, Galatians 1: 11- 17; 2: 1-10