Our chief standard of holy living

(J. C. Ryle, "Looking Unto Jesus!")

"Looking unto Jesus." Hebrews 12:2

If we would look rightly to Jesus—we must look daily
at His example, as our chief standard of holy living.
We must all feel, I suspect, and often feel—how hard it
is to live a Christian life, by mere rules and regulations.
Scores of circumstances will continually cross our path,
in which we find it difficult to see the line of duty, and
we become perplexed. Prayer for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, and attention to the practical part of the
Epistles, are, undoubtedly, primary resources. But
surely it would cut many a knot, and solve many a
problem—if we would cultivate the habit of studying
the daily behavior of our Lord Jesus, as recorded in
the four Gospels, and strive to shape our own
behavior by His pattern!

This must have been what our Lord meant when He
said, "I have given you an example—that you should
do as I have done to you." (John 13:15). And this is
what Peter meant, when he wrote, "Leaving you an
example, so that you should follow in His steps."
(1 Peter 2:21). And this is what John meant when
he said, "The one who says he abides in Him, should
walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:6).

Our "look" to Jesus is very imperfect—if we do not
look at His example, and strive to follow it. Let us
cultivate the daily habit of "looking to Christ as our 
pattern," as well as our salvation. We can never look
too steadily at Christ's death and intercession. But
we may easily look too little at the blessed steps of
His most holy life. Let all men see that we love to
follow Him whom we profess to love. "How would
my Master have behaved in my position?" should
be our constant concern.

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