Know Thyself

Matthew 11:25 "I praise You, Father... because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

The 16th century theologian and reformer John Calvin began his monumental Institutes of the Christian Religion with an assertion that sounds startlingly modern, even psychological: "Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God... Without knowledge of God there is no knowledge of self." This certainly makes sense on a human level: A man cannot be a husband unless he has some idea of what a husband is, as well as an idea of what a wife is. Knowledge of the two goes together – of the self and the other. It is no different with God because our relationship with God is just that – a relationship between an I and a Thou, a self and an Other.

In order to pray, what do you need to know about yourself and God? Jesus tells you about both. Of Himself, Jesus says that He is gentle and humble in heart, and that He offers rest for your soul. Notice what He is not: He is not a dictator or a slave driver, a project manager trying to get the most out of you. He doesn't want to burn you out. He won't add to the burdens you bring Him in prayer. "A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out" (Matthew 12:20). That's very good news about Jesus. It gives you confidence to go to Him, doesn’t it?

What do you need to know about yourself? In a word, Jesus says you need to know you are like a little child. In this context, being a child is the opposite of proud. The proud are those Jesus calls "wise and learned," whose confidence is in themselves, not in God or anybody else. The proud cannot really pray, because, as C.S. Lewis said, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you." God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (see 1 Peter 5:5) – the grace to know yourself and to know God.

That's good news about you too, very good news. You don't have to be anyone important or super-spiritual to come to Jesus. All you need to be is yourself – His child, in need of love and mercy. Doesn't that give you confidence to pray?

Matthew 11:25-30