June 28

Morning

Looking unto Jesus. — Heb 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 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, though faith is the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits. Therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ—as to Christ. Look not to your hope but to Jesus, the source of your hope. Look not to your faith but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your 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 your eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon your mind; when you wake in the morning—look to Him; when you lie down at night—look to Him. Oh! let not 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.”

Evening

But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. — Exod 7:12

This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of the divine handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine principle is cast into the heart, though the devil may fashion a counterfeit, and produce swarms of opponents, as sure as ever God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God’s grace takes possession of a man, the world’s magicians may throw down all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and poisonous as a serpent but Aaron’s rod will swallow up their rods.

The sweet attractions of the cross will woo and win the man’s heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will now have an eye for the upper spheres, and a wing to mount into celestial heights. When grace has won the day—the worldling seeks the world to come.

The same fact is to be observed in the life of the believer. What multitudes of foes has our faith had to meet! Our old sins—the devil threw them down before us, and they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah but the cross of Jesus destroys them all. Faith in Christ, makes short work of all our sins. Then the devil has launched forth another host of serpents in the form of worldly trials, temptations, unbelief; but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them, and overcomes them all.

The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus, difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honors. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there are many people who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron’s rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ is anything to you—He must be everything to you. O rest not, until love and faith in Jesus are the master passions of your soul!