Morning By Morning #180

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

It is the Holy Spirit’s role to always turn our eyes to Jesus and away from ourselves, but Satan’s role is exactly the opposite, for he is constantly trying to make us think of ourselves rather than Christ. Satan insinuates, “Your sins are too many to be forgiven, you have no faith, you don’t repent enough, you will never be able to endure to the end, you don’t have the joy of God’s children, and your grasp on Jesus is weak and wavering.” All these thoughts are about self, yet we will never find comfort or assurance by looking inside ourselves. The Holy Spirit turns our eyes away from self, telling us we are nothing—but that Christ is our “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28).

Remember, it is not your hold on Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not even your faith in Christ, although that is the means He uses—it is Christ’s blood, work, and worthiness. Therefore, don’t look at your own hand with which you are grasping Christ—look to Christ; don’t look at your hope—look to Jesus, the source of your hope; don’t look at your faith—look to Jesus, “the author and perfecter of [y]our faith” (Heb. 12:2).

We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our work, or our feelings. It is who Jesus is that gives rest to our soul—not who we are. Quickly overcoming Satan and finding peace with God comes only by “fix[ing] our eyes on Jesus.” Fix your eyes only on Him. Keep His death, His suffering, His work, His worthiness, His glory, and His intercession foremost in your mind. When you wake up in the morning, look to Him, and when you lie down at night, look to Him.

Never allow your hopes and fears to 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.

Edward Mote, 1797 – 1874

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Our eyes are what so often lead us into sin. When we are tempted by something we see and refuse to turn away, our thoughts then take over and ultimately temptation gives birth to sin. Here is how God’s Word puts it:

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:14 – 15

Thus, determining in advance what we will allow our eyes to view is critical. Consider the words of David, who said, “I will set before my eyes no vile thing” (Ps. 101:3); and Job, who said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl” (Job 31:1).

Father, “I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy” (Ps. 123:1 – 2).