I was reading the February first daily reading in the book Daily Treasure. It is Charles Spurgeon’s writing on Psalm 16. In it, Spurgeon made a point that keeps coming back to me again and again. It’s a question to my own heart: “How selfless do you truly think Jesus actually was and is?”
It’s one of the most horrible strengths of sin that it pulls our gaze so far down from the humility of Christ to ourselves. As I read Spurgeon’s comments, I thought of Jesus’ own care. In Him, the selflessness is striking! I thought of my own little hardships: What is my hope and focus in my sufferings? For myself, for others, for God? Spurgeon wrote the following on how and why Jesus endured His sufferings:
The joy which was set before him must have sent some of its beams of splendour down into the rugged places where he endured the cross… and must have made them in some respects pleasant places to the generous heart of the Redeemer.
An angel appeared to him, strengthening him; perhaps the heavenly messenger reassured him of his glorious resurrection…
For Himself? No, but the angel gave the reassurance that His resurrection would be
his people’s surety, and of the eternal joy into which he would admit the flock redeemed by blood… he surveyed the future with holy confidence because he had his eye continually on Jehovah, and enjoyed his perpetual presence.
Christ, being raised from the dead, ascended into glory, to dwell in constant nearness to God, where joy is at its full forever: the foresight of this urged him onward in his glorious but grievous toil. To bring his chosen ones to eternal happiness was the high ambition which inspired him, and made him wade through a sea of blood.[1]
How kind and selfless is our Savior? What a joy to rest in that kind heart! What a gift to be brought to love those around us with a love like His! Bring this good work in us more toward completion, Lord (Philippians 1:6)!
[1] Daily Treasure: 366 Daily Readings from The Treasury of David, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, complied by James M. Renihan, published by EP Books.
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