John C. Ryle - Keep Your Focus on Christ

[John Bauer]

Cultivate the habit of fixing your eye more simply on Jesus Christ, and try to know more of the fullness there is laid up in him for every one of his believing people. Do not be always poring down over the imperfections of your own heart and dissecting your own besetting sins. Look up. Look more to your risen Head in heaven and try to realize, more than you do, that the Lord Jesus not only died for you but that he also rose again and that he is forever at God's right hand as your Priest, your Advocate, and your Almighty Friend. When the Apostle Peter "walked upon the waters to go to Jesus" he got on very well as long as his eye was fixed upon his Almighty Master and Savior. But when he looked away to the winds and waves and reasoned and considered his own strength and the weight of his body, he soon began to sink and cried, "Lord, save me!" No wonder that our gracious Lord, while grasping his hand and delivering him from a watery grave, said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Alas, many of us are very like Peter—we look away from Jesus and then our hearts faint and we feel sinking.

John C. Ryle.