“Looking unto Jesus.”—Hebrews 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 thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy 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 thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.–Charles Spurgeon

“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.”

And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

All the afflictions, and all the temptations, and all the oppressions, and all the oppositions, and all the persecutions which befall a godly man, shall work for his good. Every cross, and every loss, and every disease which befall the holy man, shall work for his good. Every device, every snare, every deceit, every stratagem, and every enterprise of Satan against the holy man, shall work for his good. Every prosperity and every adversity; every storm and every calm; every bitter and every sweet; every cross and every comfort—shall work for the holy man’s good.

When God gives a mercy—that shall work for his good. When God takes away a mercy—that shall work for his good.

O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you, what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you, what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you, what though men rage, and devils roar against you, what though sickness is devastating your family, what though death stands every day at your elbow—yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because all these things shall work for your good!–Thomas Brooks

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he—Proverbs 23:7

We can’t think wrong and live right. What we entertain in our heart, good or bad, affects the manner in which we live. In 1895, J. R. Miller wrote:

“Our thoughts make us. They are the silent builders on the ‘temple of character’ which we are constructing. They give color and form to the whole building. If we think purely and truly, we are rearing up a holy fabric. If our thoughts are evil, the fabric that is rising within us is blemished.

The inner and the outer life will always correspond in the end. A bad heart—will work through to the surface. If a man’s life is righteous, you know his thoughts are holy. Unholy thoughts will never yield righteousness in conduct.

Thoughts seem mere nothings; flecks of cloud flying through the air; flocks of birds flitting by, and gone. But they are the most real things about our life. All things we do—are thoughts first. Our thoughts fly out like birds, and take their place in the world. Then our heart is still their home-nest, where they will return at last to dwell. “

I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves– Matthew 10:16

What a strange picture! Sheep charging in among wolves. Isn’t it usually the other way around in nature?

Yes, but Jesus reveals the supernatural power, and upside-down ways, of His kingdom by putting His children, His sheep, on the offensive. If you usually think only of Christians as being the persecuted, the martyrs, the helpless — think again. Christians, when they are persecuted, are suffering because they are storming in among the wolves to fulfill their Shepherd’s calling. The gates of hell itself, Jesus told his disciples, will not be able to withstand the onslaught of the kingdom of Christ.

Although we are promised victory in this unlikely struggle of sheep against the wolves, Jesus however also warns that we are not to be careless or reckless in our behavior. Effective insurgence will only happen when you are behaving with the wisdom and cunning of serpents, while maintaining the warmth and gentleness of doves.

We are not given a choice as to whether or not to engage the enemy: Jesus says, “I am sending you.” Neither are we given a choice of methods: Jesus says your weapons are wisdom and kindness, not cruelty or force.

Your mission is an unusual one, dear believer. You are to charge into the world, as sheep on the offensive against wolves. So your weapons will not be tooth or claw, but softness coupled with wisdom. And with these sanctified weapons, in this unlikely battle, you are promised complete victory through Jesus Christ.(From, “A Good Thing”)

—let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth– Matthew 6:3

There are some people who want every good thing they do, to be well advertised. If they give money to some good cause–they want to have it noticed in the papers. If they are kind to the poor or relieve some case of distress–they are particular that the matter should be duly published. They take pains that their charities shall not fail to be credited to themselves.

But this is not the kind of spirit which our Lord enjoined on His disciples. He told them that seeking publicity marred the beauty of their charities; that instead of announcing to others what they had done–they should not even let their own left hand know that their right hand had been doing commendable things.

Of course, Christ did not mean that we should never give to charities–except where the act would be absolutely secret. It is the heart-motive that Christ was enforcing. His disciples should never give for the sake of men’s praise. Our good works instantly lose all their value when any motive but the honor of God and desire for His approval, is in our heart. We should not even think about our charities ourselves–but should forget them, as the tree forgets the fruits it drops.

We should train ourselves therefore to do our good deeds–without seeking the praise or recognition of men. We should not be so anxious to have our name posted on every gift we send. We ought to be willing to do good, and let Christ have all the glory–while we stay back unknown and unrecognized.

Florence Nightingale, having gone like an angel of mercy among the hospitals in the Crimea until her name was enshrined in every soldier’s heart–asked to be excused from having her picture taken–that she might be forgotten, and that Christ alone might be remembered as the author of all the blessings which her hand had distributed!–J.R. Miller