Ocean of Grace (31): FRIDAY – The Faith-Look (p105ff)

 Lent Book: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/an-ocean-of-grace

 

My jottings:

 

(Comments welcome)

Ocean of Grace (31): FRIDAY – The Faith-Look (p105ff)

 

The idea of the faith-look to Christ was especially important to Spurgeon as Isaiah 45:22 —“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else” - was the text that God used for his conversion. You can find a brief account of it here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/charles-spurgeons-conversion-in-a-primitive-methodist-chapel/

 

When we think of looking to Jesus in saving faith, we may also think of Numbers 21 where the people who looked to the bronze serpent were saved according to God’s promise. We might compare Jesus lifted up on the cross as in John 3:14-15: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man [Jesus] must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’” It is  striking thought that a mere look with faith can save. We do not have to do any meritorious good works to earn God’s favour: we only have to look and trust. You may feel very unable, but you can look (by God’s grace and power). Or to put it another way, you only have to receive Jesus crucified to be saved. Look to him! Don’t be distracted. Don’t look elsewhere. Fix your eyes upon Jesus!

 

Can you make Spurgeon’s prayer your own? Can you echo his testimony of the faithfulness of Christ, whether you have been a believer for a long or a short time?

 

How might this prayer prompt you to confession of sin and repentance?

To praise and thanksgiving?

And to prayer asking for God’s help?

 

Isn’t it a staggering thought that we might be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19), especially when we consider God’s infinite fullness? We could never be that full but we can be full to the brim and we can grow in our capacity. It should encourage and motivate us that there is always more to know of the fullness of God’s love. We can never come to an end of it. The oldest and most devout and learned saints can never exhaust it. The adventure of knowing Jesus always continues. We can always go higher up and further in to God’s kingdom grace. May we know Christ little more of it afresh today and tomorrow and the next day.

 

Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2tKVqZZiI4

 

Words etc.: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/645