Robert M’Cheyne, a Scottish pastor from the nineteenth century, is most known for the annual bible reading plan he developed which many people continue to use today.

In this brief excerpt of a letter he wrote to his friend, M’Cheyne writes about his love of Christ. This is so timely in an age where the messages that we breathe in and out tells us to look within us, or look at ourselves to discover ourselves in order to find freedom. Or the other way in some evangelical circles is to read our scriptures in a self-centered way that makes it all about us. Nevertheless, according to M’Cheyne, the way to be free is not to look at ourselves, or within us. The way to be free is to look away from ourselves frequently to Christ— everyday, every moment. He writes:-

Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely.  Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief! Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in His beams. Feel His all-seeing. Eye settled on you in love, and repose in His almighty arms.

Cry after divine knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding. Seek her as silver, and search for her as hid treasure, according to the word in Proverbs 2:4. See that verse 10 be fulfilled in you. Let wisdom enter into your hearts, and knowledge be pleasant to thy soul; so, you will be delivered from the snares mentioned in the following verses.

Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Let the Holy Spirit fill every chamber of your heart; and so there will be no room for folly, or the world, or Satan, or the flesh.

I must now commend you all to God and the word of His grace. My dear people are just assembled for worship. Alas! I cannot preach to them tonight. I can only carry them and you on my heart to the throne of grace. Write me soon. Ever yours, etc.

—Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1966), 293.

In Christ the Father smiles upon us because of what Jesus has done. As we read our scriptures, we find that Christ is altogether lovely.

For every sin we see in ourselves, let’s look ten times at Christ and His finished work.