Looking Into Jesus

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1864

Looking Into Jesus.

An old writer has very justly and forcibly remarked, "As it will raise our endeavor high to look on the highest pattern, so it will lay our thoughts low concerning ourselves. Men compare themselves with men, and readily with the worst, and flatter themselves with that comparative betterness. This is not the way to see our spots, to look into the muddy streams of profane men's lives; but look into the clear fountain of the Word, and then we may both discern and wash them."

"Looking unto Jesus" should be the Christian's motto. In Him he sees the only authoritative standard of devotion; in His life the only full interpretation of the rule of duty. To look at Him abashes spiritual pride, and induces the humblest estimate of self. In looking at Him, we feel the majesty of goodness, and the lustre of His excellence quenches our rush-light of earth as the sun puts out the stars, so that we cannot even discern how one star differeth from another star in glory.

The true Christian aim is not to outshine others, to eclipse their brightness, but to shine in the light of Jesus. Shall the sand grains vie with one another, when all their brightness is but the reflection of the sun? Shall men be content to climb higher platforms than others, when, with eagle wings, they should soar above the earth itself? A sense of present imperfection is a better spur to effort than the proud feeling of comparative superiority. Only as in the light of Jesus we see how deficient we are, shall we be impelled to seek larger measures of grace, and make higher attainments in holiness.—Maine Evangelist.