Morning
Time: 5:32 AM PST
"Looking unto Jesus." --Hebrews 12:2
It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus;
but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to
make us regard ourselves instead of 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 have not the joy of His children; you have such
a wavering hold of Jesus." All these are thoughts about self, and we shall 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, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves
thee--it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee--it is
Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument--it is
Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which
thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the
source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher
of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our
doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives
rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it
must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death,
His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy
mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night
look to Him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow
hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesu's blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesu's name."