Self-focus or Christ-focus? (4)
2020-11-26Psalm 25:15 NIV
Hannah Whitall Smith writes: ‘It is no use for us to examine self, and tinker with it in hope of improving it. The thing the Lord wants us to do is to get rid of it.’
In the process of examining ourselves and feeling miserable when we don’t measure up to God’s standards, we’re inclined to think that we’re being humble, honest, and spiritual. But the only spiritual and safe way to handle our fleshly nature is to ignore it, and anchor our attention and expectations exclusively on God.
David understood how this principle worked: ‘My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.’ Looking at our own ‘snare’ (our old nature) that we’re tangled in won’t free us from the trap. We’ll just end up getting even more entangled. Only God, together with our cooperation, can release us from the trap of our fleshly nature. This old nature is determined to hold our attention and keep us caught, so we need to constantly remind ourselves to look to God and the freedom He brings. Keeping our ‘eyes…ever on the LORD’ is His way of giving us the victory.
Here’s something else that David said on the subject: ‘I keep my eyes always on the LORD…I will not be shaken…You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand’ (Psalm 16:8-11 NIV).
Our job is easy to explain and understand, but not necessarily easy to do. It’s to ignore our fleshly cravings and stay focused on Jesus. His job is to transform us by His mighty power.