Monday, July 19, 2010

"Where to Look"!

An encouraging Brother sent this Spurgeon quote to me and I just wanted to pass it on. Thanks much Scott!




LOOKING TO JESUS. – HEBREWS 12:2


It is always the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus. But Satan’s work is just the opposite; he is constantly trying to make us look at 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 do not have the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold on Jesus.” All these are 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 everything. Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, although that is the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits. Therefore, do not look so 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 founder and perfecter of your faith. We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our deeds, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we are to overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking to Jesus.” Keep your eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession be fresh upon your mind. When you waken in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him. Do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

4 comments:

Craig and Heather said...

Thank you Tom for reminding us. He is our Hope!

Col 1:18 ESV
(18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.


Craig

Tom Gabbard said...

Craig,

I believe Spurgeon sums it up very well in this quote!!

Scott David said...

You are welcome my friend! If our eyes look as through a telescope toward Jesus; no perception of self can be seen... Scott

Tom Gabbard said...

Very encouraging words Scott! The hardest battle that I have had in life is doing just that.....keeping my focus on Him rather than myself!