SINNER, LOOK TO CHRIST

The Holy Spirit’s work is to turn our eyes from ourselves to Jesus Christ; but the devil’s work is the very opposite.

“You are guilty,” says the devil – that is self. “You have not faith” – that is self. “You have none of the joy of the Spirit, and therefore cannot be one of His” – that is self.

Thus the devil begins picking holes in us; whereas the Holy Spirit takes self entirely away, and tells us that we are indeed nothing at all, but that “Christ is all in all.”

Satan brings the carcase of self and pulls it about, and because that is corrupt, tells us that most assuredly we cannot be saved. But remember, sinner, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you – it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, that saves you, though that 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 Christ, the source of your hope; look not to your faith, but to Christ, the Author and Finisher of your faith.

If you do that, ten thousand devils cannot throw you down. But as long as you look to yourself, the meanest of those evil spirits may tread you beneath his feet.

C. H. Spurgeon