The Temptation of My Surrendered Life

To seek gems for a crown that is laid down at Jesus’ feet is to seek whatever is for his glory. Yet, the temptation is to adore that gem-crested crown more than the king who sits above it, and again try to place it upon my own head.

Whatever Jesus has accomplished through my life can become a temptation for me if I somehow lose sight of the fact that it was him who accomplished it, for his own glory.

I sometimes begin to fix my gaze on those accomplishments and start to see them as beautiful justifications of my own goodness. It sounds like, “Look at all I have done for you, Lord!” What foolishness! I can only hear him respond, “Child, I have done all of this through you.”

The only remedy is to adore him more than what has been accomplished. To find the worker more worthy than the work. Admiring the worker more keeps me from anxiety over unfinished works, discouragement over difficult works, weariness due to unexpected works, and infatuation over beautiful works. To keep my eye on him is the necessity of my soul.