"Take Ten Looks at Jesus." This sentence is actually the second part of a quote attributed to the 19th century Scottish Preacher Robert Murray McCheyne. Here's the full quote, "For every one look you take at yourself, take ten looks at Jesus." Now besides encouraging us to look more to Jesus and less to ourselves (!), what does McCheyne suggesting with this idea? Let me offer the following thoughts. . . First, we look to Jesus because He is Life! He is our Life (John 14:6; Colossians 3:1-3). If you are in the habit of looking to yourself, thinking about yourself, whether it is of your successes or failures, you will either fluctuate between pride and self-sufficiency if you're doing okay, or, you will be discouraged and cynical because of your failures and sins, be they actual or perceived. In short, you'll be full of self, not of Jesus. Now, you might not be a bad or "wicked" person, but you will also not be one whose thoughts and affections are feasting on Jesus. You will not be a worship-ful person, adoring Christ moment-b-moment, day by day. Next, remember Jon 14:6 above? Jesus said that He is the "Way" to the Father. That word "way" in the Greek is often translated "road". You see, Jesus is the "road" or "way" to the Father. Sometimes we use the metaphor of "walking" to describe our relationship with Jesus. Can I encourage you then, to focus, not so much on your "walk", but on the "road" or the Way (Jesus!) on which you are walking. If you and I focus too much on the quality of our walk (or lack thereof!), again, our life with Jesus will be all over the place. We will be alternatively either happy or sad, depending on how well we are doing. Our happiness or lack of it, depends then, not on Jesus who is our Life, but on how we are doing. For every one look you take then, at either your successes or failures, take ten looks at Jesus. Look at Him. Think about Him and His incredible mercies and you will be changed from the inside-out. When you get tempted to despair and think you will never change or gain a large measure of victory over that besetting sin, look to Jesus and His wounds. Look to His heart and His prayers for you. Look to His perfections and affections for you. He never changes. I pray we'll learn to look!

P.S. I'd like to give you a special invite to our worship services beginning October 18th. I will begin a twelve-week series (interrupted only by our Advent series of messages) of messages on the Free Church's new statement of faith. If you have ever wondered what makes a Free church a Free church, well, the statement of faith is an important part of that. Hope to see you there!