So if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! 2 Corinthians 5:17

All-Knowing God,

When we begin to know you, 

and when we begin to understand 

the hope, joy, and relief 

of being known by you, 

then and only then are we ready 

to begin trying to know ourselves.

What do we need to know about ourselves?

We need to know our sin: 

not only generally, but specifically:

some of us always want to be right; 

some of us need to feel love and approval from everyone all the time; 

some of us need lots of money and stuff to feel secure; 

some of us  get angry easily when they don’t get their way

…and on and on we could go.

[Stop for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal some of your specific sin tendencies.]

But if we stopped at only knowing our sin, 

we would remain in despair. 

As we prayed yesterday, 

you knew our sin—

past, present, and future 

when you sent your Son to die for us (Romans 5:8).

We must also know 

who we have become 

and who we are becoming in Christ:

In Christ, we already have become (unbelievably to us), 

“the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). 

In Christ, we already have become “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).

In Christ, we are “being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14), 

becoming more and more like Christ every day.

That means that we are recognizing and repenting more quickly 

when we put our trust in 

being right, 

or needing approval, 

or trusting in riches, 

or getting our way

[Name some things you are recognizing and repenting of more quickly.]

Oh, Lord, what good news 

your Word gives us about ourselves!

The truest truth about us 

is not that we are sinners 

but that we are redeemed sinners.

You have saved us for a purpose, 

and you have sent us to tell others 

the good news of our hope in Jesus Christ. 

Thank you for giving us our identity 

as adopted children,

servants of the King, 

Christ’s ambassadors.

In Jesus’ freeing name. Amen.

Read Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.