Look to Jesus

It is always the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work it just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us pay attention to ourselves instead of to Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith. You do not repent enough. You will never be able to continue to the end. You do not have the joy of His children. You have such a weak hold of Jesus.” All these are the thoughts about self, and we will never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self. He tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, that it is not your hold of Christ that saves you; it is Christ. It is your joy in Christ that saves you; it is Christ. It is not even your faith in Christ, though that is the instrument, but it is Christ’s blood and His merits that save you; therefore, do not look as much to your hand, with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ. Do not look to your hope, but to Jesus, the Source of your hope. Do not look to your faith, but to “Jesus, the author and finisher of [your] faith” (Heb. 12:2). We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our actions, or our feelings. It is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. –Charles H. Spurgeon