Stop Looking at Self -- Look at Him Who Has Been

Now more than ever, I understand the crucial importance of looking at Jesus, and not at ourselves.

All the thoughts and feelings that I wrestled, all of that self-talk that many of us engage in (to our hurt), all of it was not necessary.  We are not transformed by looking at ourselves. We do not get better by looking at ourselves, by trying to fix our thoughts and feeling.  

We get better when we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord:

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)

The grace of God, His favor in our lives, teaches us all things:

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

Grace is all about having something good to look forward to, as well: "Looking for that blessed hope."

We have this confidence because of Jesus, who lives in us, too!

"27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 27-29)

Christ Jesus lives in me. I want to be more interested in who He is, not in who I am, or what I am lacking.

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)

We are complete in Christ, which means we need to see more of Christ Jesus in our lives:

"4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." (Philemon 4-7)

Our faith works as we see more of Jesus.

For this reason, John describes maturity thus:

"13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning." (1 John 2: 13-14)

Fatherhood is not based on how old we are, but that we know the Father of the Ages. Fatherhood is not a function of how many children we have, or how many of those children have grown up into functional, productive adults.

Fatherhood, growth in grace, maturity in the faith, is all about seeing Jesus. See Him as your Savior today, not just as God made flesh who saved you two thousand years ago when He died on the Cross.