Looking to Jesus

Martin Luther said the sinner is “the person curved in on himself.” In other words, our sinful disposition creates a curvature problem. How often have you struggled with being self-conscious, self-promoting, self-obsessed, self-pitying, self-critical, self-condemning? Our inward bent only leads to envy, guilt, and despair. The solution is to look outside ourselves to Christ. But we can’t do that in our own strength. Charles Spurgeon explains,

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. . . . 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.” (“Morning, June 28,” in Morning and Evening)

Spurgeon’s words are directed to believers because we are often tempted to revert to our natural curvature. We need the Holy Spirit to draw our attention away from ourselves to Christ. The Spirit is the one who comes from the Father and testifies about Christ (Jn 15:26). If you are locked in the prison of self, look up with the Spirit’s help and see your Savior, full of light and love.

Les Bridgeman

I have served as a high school Bible teacher and counselor in Asia and the U.S. I am passionate about understanding and teaching the Bible. Here’s a link to my book page.