"Oh … to see ourselves as others see us." This noble aspiration, immortalized by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, still falls a bit short. It is true that others can see our faults more clearly than we can, but there is One who sees not only our every action, but our every thought and motive as well. The ultimate gift would be not merely to see ourselves as other people do, but to see ourselves as our Creator does.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Since Jesus is the Truth incarnate (John 14:6), some believe that this Scripture simply refers to the freedom we find by knowing Him. However, it is generally much easier to embrace "truth" in the abstract, than it is to daily acknowledge the specific truths revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. An excellent example of this principle was provided by the original hearers of the statement: Jews who, a short while before, had offered to become disciples of Jesus (John 8:30). While they were willing to accept Him, they were not willing to accept the truth He spoke about them - and by the end of the chapter, they had decided to stone Him instead (John 8:59).
The Bible says that the Blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness on a continuing basis, if we confess our sins and walk in the light (1 John 1:7-9). This is not a duty or a ceremonial sacrament. It is a way of life, being ready at any moment to hear the Holy Spirit's voice of conviction and repent. The only way to be set free from the bondage of our own sins and foolishness is to see them as God does, and then let Him cleanse and change us through the power of the Blood.
All Scripture references from KJV. Commentary ©2012 Hitchcock Family Ministry. Unaltered text may be reproduced freely without financial gain. Original commentary and Scripture song available at http://www.freescripturesongs.org/o-God-thou-knowest-my-foolishness.