“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” Hebrews 12:2

The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to be experimentally nothing, and to make Jesus our “all in all,” thereby teaching us to live by faith upon Him.

Oh, may you, by the Spirit’s power, so lift up your eyes from all but Jesus, that you will be conformed to His image (2 Cor. 3:18). But do not expect to receive any better account of yourself—rather a worse one; for, as you get nearer the light, you will see more of your own sinfulness. I do hope, however, to hear you speak well of Him, and that, as you feelingly cry out, “Behold, I am vile!” He will melt your heart by responding, “You are absolutely beautiful, my darling, with no imperfection in you!”

Oh, this wondrous Savior! He opens the secret of our wanderings and transgressions—only to declare how entirely He has put them all away by the sacrifice of Himself! Oh, what mercy that He did not say, “Let them alone, they have loved idols, after idols let them go!” What mercy that by His light, He has manifested our darkness. You shall see greater things than these.

More of your own vile heart—and more of His loving heart.

More of your sin—and more of His great salvation.

More of your deformity—and more of His beauty.

Do not be considering so much how you love Jesus, as how He loves you. Your love is but the effect; His is the cause; and the more you have to do with the cause, the more fully will the effect flow from it (1 John 4:19, and John 15:9).

So with faith; if you would have it grow, it must be by looking at Him, not at your faith.

In short, the more you “consider Him,” and are continually coming unto Him, the more lively and healthy will be the graces of the Spirit in your soul; while yet you rejoice, not
in your fruitfulness—but only in Jesus and in what He has done and suffered. If the Holy Spirit opens this to you, you will find the secret of peace and power. It is all in Christ! He says, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Away from self, away from all besides—to be absorbed in Him. We must learn . . .

our weakness—as well as His strength;

our emptiness—as well as His fullness;

our ignorance—as well as His wisdom.

May your eye and heart to be fixed on Him. Then will your course be steady, and you will not be greatly moved by the many changes you will ever find within. Oh, press on after a life of faith in Jesus, for it is next in blessedness to a life of glory with Jesus. Beg of the blessed Spirit to draw your faith out continually upon His precious Person and work. Oh! may He cause you to come out of self continually, and find your all in Jesus! The more you are brought so to live upon Jesus, the more stability of soul you will experience. To Him I commend you—may He be revealed more fully in your soul.