The Road Back to Jesus (Part 5: Seek Jesus, Know Jesus)

The enemy is crafty. He’ll use anything to lead us astray. He speaks in lies. “Focus on yourself,” he urges. “Try harder. Know yourself better. Maintain control over your own life. Then you’ll be truly happy.” The devil is the king of idols, and we’re the first to jump when we’re offered a do-it-yourself solution to the out-of-control, uncomfortable life of a follower of Jesus. 

This is the danger lurking below the surface of the Enneagram. Friend, you don’t need a psychologized self-awareness to see God. You don’t need to understand the inner workings of your heart or mind to give you access to a relationship with the high king of heaven.

This is the wonder of faith: that an infant who knows little more than his mother’s voice might know the love of his maker as well as the 95-year-old crossing the finish line of life. 

 I can use the Enneagram as a magnifying glass, zooming in on my faults and fears, my strengths and my service to the church. Yet, it can not provide the strength to will and act and serve to God’s glory.  I can use the Enneagram to see my spouse, my cousin, my coworker from a new perspective, but the Enneagram doesn’t provide the grace I need to approach them in truth and love. I can use the Enneagram to light up areas of weakness and strength in my heart and mind, to see how my past has shaped me, but it will never allow me to leave fleeting feelings behind to find a firm foundation in the grace and peace of my God.

We don’t need the Enneagram to show us our sin and weakness; no, the only journey of self-discovery we need is the discovery of our deep need for Jesus.

It is the law which leads me to my knees before my almighty God.  It is my constant failure of his expectations which reminds me why I so deeply need a Savior. 

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7) Knowledge of our own strengths can not pull us out of the pit of sin and unrighteousness.

Only Jesus’ death on the cross can cancel the debt of sin. Only by his resurrection are our weaknesses replaced with HIS strength. Jesus and only Jesus has brought us out of the darkness of sin into the wonderful light of salvation.  He has equipped us with endless spiritual gifts, enabled us to serve and love him, and called us to do his work here on earth. Most importantly, he has promised us perfect union with the all-knowing God in heaven, where we will worship in peace and joy forever, leaving all fears and doubts and questions behind. This is where we will find our “true selves.” This is where we will discover exactly the person that God made us to be.

“Knowing yourself” is all well and good, but seeking God is a truly worthwhile endeavor. So, learn your Enneagram number, spend some time reflecting upon your strengths and weaknesses, and go back to your daily walk with God. In a world full of people that love to check themselves out in the mirror, seek the face of God, who knows you better than you will ever know yourself.

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Join the Conversation:

• Has learning your Enneagram number helped you in your walk of faith?
• Do you believe that the Enneagram does more harm or more help among believers?
• How might we use the Enneagram and knowing yourself as a jumping-off point for talking about knowing and seeking Jesus?