"Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." 2 Chronicles 32:31

Hezekiah was growing so inwardly great, and priding himself so much upon the favour of God, that self-righteousness crept in, and through his carnal security, the grace of God was for a time, in its more active operations, withdrawn. Here is quite enough to account for his folly with the Babylonians; for if the grace of God should leave the best Christian, there is enough of sin in his heart to make him the worst of transgressors.

If left to yourselves, you who are the warmest for Christ would cool down like Laodicea into sickening lukewarmness.

You who are sound in the faith would be white with the leprosy of false doctrine.

You who now walk before the Lord in excellency and integrity would reel to and fro, and stagger with a drunkenness of evil passion.

Like the moon, we borrow our light; bright as we are when grace shines on us, we are darkness itself when the Sun of Righteousness withdraws Himself. Therefore let us cry to God never to leave us.

"Lord, take not your Holy Spirit from us? Withdraw not from us your indwelling grace? Have you not said, I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day? Lord, keep us everywhere:

Keep us when in the valley, that we murmur not against your humbling hand;

keep us when on the mountain, that we don't become giddy through being lifted up;

keep us in youth, when our passions are strong;

keep us in old age, when becoming conceited of our wisdom, we may therefore prove to be greater fools than the young and giddy;

keep us when we come to die, lest, at the very last, we should deny Thee?

Keep us living, keep us dying, keep us labouring, keep us suffering, keep us fighting, keep us resting, keep us everywhere, for everywhere we need You, O our God?"

C.H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening,06/29

It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus."

All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all".

Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you - it is Christ: It is not your joy in Christ that saves you - it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument, - it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to your hope, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayer, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would instantly overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus".

Keep your eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon your mind; when you wake in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him. O! let not your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you.

"My Hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness:

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name."

C.H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, 06/28