Looking to Jesus
It’s that time of year again. It’s time for me to pull out one of my all-time favorite C.H. Spurgeon quotes. Spurgeon, as most of you know, was the longtime pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London in the 19th century. God gave him a great pulpit ministry and his writings still encourage us. The following quote is taken from his Morning and Evening which is a series of daily devotionals. I really, really like this quote. Lord willing, you’ll see this again in a future pastor’s pen from time to time:
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.