TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 10:14-21
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - Romans 10:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
A missionary went to a remote area of Africa to share the gospel. He explained to the people that the Book he had brought, the Bible, contained God’s message which he had come to share with them. Some tribesmen from a neighboring village heard the missionary’s message, and went back home to tell others the wonderful news about God’s Book. A group of men from this village returned to the missionary and asked for his Bible. The words of hope these people had heard inspired them to tell others about this Book which contained God’s message to them.

This is not a story from the past, but a modern-day example of the need to communicate the gospel. Paul’s statement that God freely offers salvation to “everyone who calls on [His] name” (v. 13) leads him to ask a series of rhetorical questions that form a powerful argument for the ministry of evangelism.

Each question builds on the one before it, and the line of responsibility leads directly to each believer! We’re the ones who have been sent with the good news of salvation.

The word translated “preach” here is not limited to those who stand behind a pulpit. It means “to announce,” which each Christian is capable of doing. The quotation in today’s verse is from Isaiah 52:7, which refers to God’s announcement that Israel’s exile in Babylon had ended. Paul applies this to the gospel, which is God’s proclamation of freedom from sin.

Since Paul’s subject was Israel’s rejection of the salvation Christ brought, he returns to the issue in verse 16. Israel heard the message of faith, so their rejection can’t be explained by any failure on God’s part to provide opportunity for belief.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In today’s society, the rejection of the gospel is worldwide. But God has certainly not turned His back on any people group. As Christians, we need to preach the gospel to everyone who can hear it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 11:1-24
It is by faith you stand firm. - 2 Corinthians 1:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Rabbi Leopold Cohn grew up in a devout Jewish community in Eastern Europe during the late nineteenth century. But when he came to America, Rabbi Cohn came face-to-face with the claims of Jesus Christ. After reading the Scripture and spending all night in prayer, Rabbi Cohn received Jesus Christ as his Savior and Messiah. Following his conversion, this earnest man went on to establish an outreach to Jewish people that is known today as Chosen People Ministries.

Leopold Cohn’s life and ministry testify to the same reality Paul expresses in Romans 11:1. God has not rejected His chosen people--“By no means!” Paul says emphatically. Nothing he had written about Israel’s unbelief and rejection meant that God had cast off His people.

Elijah the prophet thought Israel was finished after the evil king Ahab and his pagan wife Jezebel tried to eliminate God’s faithful servants. But God had a surprise for His prophet. There were 7,000 others in Israel who had remained true to Him.

Paul applies this example to his day, when only a remnant of Israelites had believed the gospel and received Christ by faith. From the standpoint of God’s program, the situation is the same today. Many Jewish people are hardened in unbelief, as the prophets had warned.

It’s obvious from verses 11-24 that Paul didn’t forget to whom he was writing, or why. Israel’s unbelief opened the door of God’s grace to the Gentiles, which included the majority of the believers in Rome.

But the attitude of Gentile Christians, the “wild olive shoot” (v. 17) grafted on to the olive tree of Israel, should be one of amazement and gratitude, not arrogance. God didn’t break off the original branches and graft in the Gentiles because they were better than the Jews, but because He is a merciful God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of the people’s unbelief (Lk. 19:41-42). Paul’s deepest desire was that his fellow Israelites would be saved.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 11:25-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! - Romans 11:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1999, a bulldozer clearing a road near the Old City of Jerusalem fell into a hole. The result was the discovery of a 2,000-year-old underground factory where Jewish masons carved stone mugs, dishes, and other vessels for priests to use in worship in the nearby temple. One source says that the masonry factory, whose rooms stretched over one-quarter of an acre, offers “physical proof of ritual purity laws described in the Bible.” It also indicates the degree to which the Jews scrupulously followed these laws in their worship.

No one can deny that many Jewish people have been careful, and even meticulous, in their worship. Paul says his fellow Israelites were “zealous for God” (Rom. 10:2). But the apostle adds that in their zeal, the Jews missed the righteousness-by-faith that comes from God and set out to establish their own righteousness-by-law. The result was Israel’s rejection and hardening by God.

But the apostle closes this portion of his letter to the Romans with good news: Israel’s rejection is both partial and temporary. That’s the message of verses 25-32.

Because Israel failed to respond in obedient faith to the Messiah, God hardened His people. But this is different than the hardening experienced by Pharaoh (Rom. 9:18). The word for Israel’s hardening means “dullness,” while Pharaoh’s problem was “stubbornness,” a different word altogether. Here again we see God’s sovereignty at work in the lives of people.

But Paul points out that not every Israelite was in this condition. A remnant was being saved by faith in his day, and the same is true today. What’s more, a day is coming when the total number of Gentiles whom God has chosen for salvation will be reached.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul’s doxology of praise (vv. 33-36) closes this section of Romans with an important lesson.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:1-8
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. - Romans 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
D. L. Moody was gifted in business and skilled in leadership, abilities that drew the attention of more than one person in the Chicago business community of the late 1800s. Mr. Moody had a number of opportunities to leave his ministry and enter the business world, but he was sure of his calling and refused to abandon the work God had given him.

In other words, D. L. Moody wouldn’t allow himself to be pressured into someone else’s mold. It wasn’t that the business offers he received were wrong in themselves. They just weren’t the will of God for Moody’s life, and he knew it.

Paul would have identified with D. L. Moody. The apostle had that same single-minded focus, and he called on all believers to make a similar, life-changing commitment. This isn’t too much to ask in view of all that God has done for us, as outlined in Romans 1-11.

This commitment is so important that it is expressed by a form of the verb “offer” which refers to doing something in a “decisive, conscious manner.” Certainly the dedication of our total being to Christ may need to be renewed at times. But there needs to be a decisive moment when we turn away from the world and offer our lives to the Lord.

A decision like this is bound to be reflected in our everyday experience, which is the point Paul makes in this section of his letter to the Romans we have labeled “The Practice of Righteousness” (12:1--15:13). For example, if we are committed to Jesus Christ we will be able resist the world’s attempts to mold us.

A committed Christian life will also express itself in service to the body of Christ (vv. 3-8). This service is to be performed in a spirit of humility by people who have a healthy, realistic view of themselves shaped by God’s work in their lives and the gifts He has given them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
People who have made the commitment of Rom. 12:1-2 are able to “think Christianly,” which means passing everything through the grid of God’s Word to see if it aligns with the truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 12:9-21
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a recent issue of Worldwide Challenge magazine, writer Susie Hilsman tells the story of Franz Mohr, the former chief technician for the Steinway piano company. During his career, Mohr tuned pianos for legendary pianists such as Vladimir Horowitz and Artur Rubinstein. “I’m playing more in Carnegie Hall than anyone else,” Mohr once joked, “but nobody listens to me!” Franz Mohr is also a committed Christian who is helping reach the classical music world for Christ.

A gifted piano tuner, serving others so that they can perform at peak level, is a wonderful illustration of the way Christians should use their gifts to serve one another. Franz Mohr’s humorous quip about his own piano “concerts” reveals a person who has no problem with the fact that others are in the spotlight. Rejoicing when someone else is honored takes real Christ-like love, because it rubs against the grain of our human nature.

In this section of Romans, Paul doesn’t waste any time helping us put our salvation into action. Romans follows the apostle’s familiar style of explaining the theological truth of our position in Christ, and then showing how that theology works in everyday practice.

A warm, “brotherly love” for our fellow Christians expresses itself in serving and honoring them, sharing their joys and sorrows, and even meeting their physical needs. That’s a lot easier to do with our friends than with our enemies, but we’re not off the hook even with people who repay our good with evil.

The world teaches us to love our friends and hate our enemies. But Christ redefines the way we relate to all people. Our reaction to people who hurt us needs to be like Christ’s, who refused to retaliate even against those who crucified Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Romans 12 contains several warnings against pride and conceit (v. 3, twice in v. 16), and several exhortations to practice humility (vv. 3, 10, 16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 13:1-14
There is no authority except that which God has established. - Romans 13:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
On October 21, 1990 this statement appeared in Today in the Word. Speaking of Romans 13 and the Christian’s relationship to government, we wrote: “It looks like the question of when to obey the law and when to resist is going to be a thorny issue in the evangelical community well into the 1990s.”

The decade of the nineties did bring challenges we couldn’t have imagined ten years ago. But the truth is that Paul could have made the same statement almost 1,950 years ago when he wrote to the Romans. The Christians of his day had an imperial Roman government that viewed Christians with misunderstanding at best, and hostile suspicion at worst.

Paul’s purpose in Romans 13 is not to tackle all the exceptions and debate the hard cases. These verses communicate the basic principles God’s people are to follow in relating to their government.

The principles themselves are simple enough. Believers are obligated to obey “the governing authorities” for at least two reasons. First, we obey because God ordained human government. Leaders represent God-established authority. They govern in His place. Those who abuse their authority will answer to God, but that’s not Paul’s focus here. The exceptions don’t cancel out the principle.

A second reason to obey authority is because of God’s purpose for government, which is to restrain evil and reward good. We can think of exceptions, but even flawed governments are capable of maintaining order and protecting their citizens.

Paul extends his argument when he says our response must be more than just grudging obedience for fear of punishment (v. 5). It’s a matter of Christian conscience to give those in authority what is due them. Paul includes respect and revenue as part of our obligation, following Jesus’ teaching about what we owe to “Caesar” (Matt. 22:15-21).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul told Timothy that praying for those in authority over us “pleases God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:3).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 14:1-12
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. - Romans 14:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Ainu people of northern Japan tattooed large mustaches on their daughters before the Japanese government banned the practice at the end of the 19th century. Soot was rubbed into small cuts around the girls’ mouths to gain the desired effect. The tattooing began when a girl was two or three, with a few marks added each year until she was married. The practice finally died out not only from the law, but because the Ainu began to marry ethnic Japanese who did not consider these “beauty marks” acceptable.

This illustrates the issues Paul addresses in Romans 14. What is considered acceptable can vary widely, not only from group to group but even from person to person. Since this is also true of believers, we need to know how to treat people who differ from us.

Defining acceptable cultural practices was a very hot topic among first-century Christians. So many of them came to Christ out of a pagan environment that otherwise ordinary activities like eating meat or observing special days became burning spiritual issues (see 1 Cor. 8 for an example).

Rather than being drawn into controversy over a specific item, Paul presents biblical principles for handling “disputable matters.” These are morally neutral issues, not essentials of the Christian faith, like the deity of Christ, that are beyond dispute. Also, the “weak” Christian here is one whose conscience is more sensitive, not someone who is morally or spiritually inferior.

The first principle affirms that differences of opinion are acceptable in these areas. We need to realize that we don’t have to defend our position or attack the other person’s. We’re accountable to Christ in matters of personal conviction, not to each other, so there’s no room for either judgment or pride.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul takes us to the real issue in disputable matters-–the motive of our hearts.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 14:13-23
Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. - Romans 14:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
The explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 set sail in August 1914 for Antarctica, with the goal of crossing the frozen continent overland. But Shackleton’s ship was caught in the ice pack and slowly crushed. The crew was forced to abandon the ship for ice floes and begin the task of survival. One writer says each man knew his job and did it without being told. Tentmates embraced each other at night to keep from freezing as they slept on the ice. The teamwork paid off as the men were rescued after more than five months’ survival on the ice.

A crisis makes people willing to overlook distractions and cooperate to reach an important goal. Paul says the Christian life should make us want to live that way every day.

The problem with Christians getting into disputes over “disputable matters” (v. 1) is that these disagreements have a destructive effect. The judgmental person tends to become harsh and prideful, and a person with a sensitive conscience may be led to violate his convictions and bring about self-condemnation.

Neither of these results furthers the work of Christ--and worse yet, they can become stumbling blocks that cause Christians to trip and fall spiritually. That’s tragic when it happens over an issue that isn’t crucial to the faith.

Paul has a good example at hand. He isn’t bothered by the fact that the food he ate may once have been part of a ritual in a pagan temple (a big issue in Corinth, see 1 Cor. . But the apostle also recognizes that other believers took a different view, and that for him to shove his freedom in their faces was sin. He even decides not to eat anything that would lead one of his fellow Christians into sin (v. 21; cf. 1 Cor. 8:13).

This is imporftant to Paul, not because food was a big issue in itself. Food was too trivial to be allowed to divide and destroy believers. The essence of God’s kingdom is the spiritual realities of “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday we talked about the importance of our attitude toward areas of personal conviction that Paul calls “disputable.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 15:1-13
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. - Romans 15:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Charles de Gaulle, former president of France and leader of the free French during World War II, was a devoted father to his daughter Anne, who was mentally handicapped and needed constant care. People who viewed de Gaulle as the aloof soldier and political leader were astonished at the tender and loving care this towering man lavished on his little girl. De Gaulle spent hours playing simple games with Anne, and at night he held her hand until she fell asleep.

That’s a great picture of the strong bearing the weak. Paul includes himself among the strong Christians who have an obligation to avoid harming their weaker brothers and sisters.

Paul has great personal liberty in Christ. But he uses it to serve others, not as a source of pride. The apostle is ready to lay his personal rights aside for the sake of someone else’s spiritual growth, and he wants that attitude to be the model for others.

Verse 2 suggests that weaker Christians have an obligation here too. All of us need to practice the kind of self-denial the Savior practiced when He absorbed the insults and abuses of the cross to redeem us. If the church, the body of Christ, can display a spirit of unity in the way we serve each other, we will bring great glory to our Lord.

Paul sums up the issue of Christian liberty by saying, “Accept one another” (v. 7). He could put this in the form of a command because we have been accepted by Jesus Christ. In fact, Paul is convinced that Christ would give believers the strength needed to do anything He commanded (Phil. 4:13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When you think of strong Christians who helped you grow in Christ, do some names and faces come to mind?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 15:14-33
The God of peace be with you all. - Romans 15:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
end of our journey through the magnifi-cent book of Romans. Today’s study begins the seventh and final section of our outline, the portion called Closing Greetings and Messages (15:14--16:27).

Paul’s closing thoughts and personal greetings are part of the Spirit-inspired biblical text because they have a lot to teach us. Many times our letters trail off with a warm thought and a quick goodbye, but Paul had too much on his heart for that.

One of Paul’s reasons for writing this letter was to inform the Roman believers of his plan to visit them. Here Paul explains those plans as he writes from Corinth, where he and his co-workers were collecting an offering for the relief of destitute Jewish believers in Jerusalem.

But first Paul affirms his Roman readers once more (v. 14) and urges them to continue growing in God’s grace. He also rejoices once again in his God-given ministry as the apostle to the Gentiles--which is remarkable given the fact that as a highly trained Jewish scholar, Paul might have had a comfortable and prestigious ministry without ever leaving Israel.

But he abandoned all that (Phil. 3:7) to follow God’s plan of bringing salvation to the Gentiles. That’s why the apostle had come to Corinth in the first place. He was determined not to “piggy-back” on someone else’s work, so he was ready to move on since his work in the region around Corinth was finished (v. 23).

Paul’s hope was that after he had finished delivering the gift to Jerusalem, he would be able to visit Rome on his way to Spain. He did eventually reach Rome, but not as he had planned. Maybe he knew that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem, since he asks the Romans to pray for his deliverance from “the unbelievers in Judea” (v. 31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The road along the way was difficult, but Paul’s experience in Rome is a great example of his perseverance and faithfulness to the gospel.

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Read: Romans 16:1-27
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! - Romans 16:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Captain Charlie Plumb was one of hundreds of U.S. pilots captured by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. Plumb tells of being in a POW camp with a young Navy man who accomplished an amazing feat. He memorized the names, social security numbers, and home towns of every prisoner in the camp, more than 250 men. He also memorized the names and phone numbers of their families and next-of-kin!

But this young serviceman wasn’t simply killing time or testing his memory. After his release and return to the U.S., he visited every family of his fellow POWs, bringing them news of their captive husbands, fathers, and sons.

This kind of friendship and loyalty reminds us of Paul’s attitude toward his friends and co-workers in the faith. Paul names 35 people who were a great help to him and whose hard work for the gospel’s sake was a tremendous encouragement to him. Priscilla and Aquila had even “risked their lives” for Paul (v. 4). There’s a note of real tenderness in Paul’s greeting to Rufus and his mother, who was like a mother to the apostle (v. 13).

Paul loved these people, and all the believers, so much that he wanted to protect them from false teachers. These deceivers, who served their own selfish desires and caused division in the body of Christ, were present in Rome too (vv. 17-19). The implication is that Satan was behind their work (v. 20).

The last chapter of Romans is another indication of how much Paul valued his co-workers in ministry and relied on their help. He not only passes on greetings to people in Rome who were special to him, but he freely acknowledges the help he was receiving from his ministry companions. A brother named Tertius even wrote this letter at Paul’s direction (v. 22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul had the amazing ability to blend teaching and even rebuke with genuine love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 20:22-24
At his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. - Psalm 27:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sacrifice played a central role in many ancient religions. Throughout history, sacrificial offerings have consisted of various animals, fruits, flowers, vegetables, and even human beings. The Aztecs, for example, offered as many as twenty thousand human sacrifices yearly to their sun god. The Greeks sacrificed animals such as goats or cattle, sometimes eating the sacrifice in a “celebratory meal” in honor of their gods. Long ago the Chinese practiced human sacrifice and also offered animals and food to their gods and ancestors.

How tragic that all these sacrifices were made in vain! The one true God commanded the Israelites of the Old Testa-ment to follow a sacrificial system that foreshadowed the once-for-all sacrifice of His Son. How did these sacrifices point to Christ? And in retrospect, how did Christ fulfill the Old Testament sacrifices? Answering these questions will be our focus this month.

We’ll start with several days of “preliminaries”--pre-Law examples of the principles of sacrifice. Then we’ll spend several days on each of the five major Old Testament offerings: burnt, meal, sin, guilt, and peace. Just in time for Easter, we’ll meditate on Passion Week and the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Finally, we’ll apply this to our own lives, discovering how we as believers should be sacri-

ficing today.

Ultimately, this study is about worship--the “worthship” of God. True sacrifice is all about worshiping Him, about recognizing and responding rightly to who He is. An obedient, worshipful heart has always been more important to God than any mere ritual, even the rituals of the Law (see 1 Sam. 15:22 and Hos. 6:6).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Old Testament sacrificial system can be difficult to understand. Consider using a commentary on the Pentateuch to help you get the most from this month’s study. We recommend New Manners and Customs of Bible Times from Moody Press.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 4:1-12
By faith Abel . . . was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. - Hebrews 11:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
From our hearts flow our words and actions. As the book of Proverbs reminds us: “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction” (16:23). By contrast, “A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit” (26:24).

The heart cannot hide its secrets from God: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). There’s no getting around it: “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man” (Prov. 27:19).

Jesus summarizes: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart” (Lk. 6:45).

We see these principles demonstrated in today’s Scripture reading. Abel had stored up good things in his heart, but his brother Cain had not. In their behavior we see a clear illustration of the relationship between outward actions and inward attitudes.

Did God instruct Cain and Abel to bring offerings? We don’t know. How did He reveal His attitude toward the two sacrifices? Again, we don’t know. What we do know is that while both brothers went through the outward motions, their two hearts looked at God in completely different ways.

Although there is some indication in Genesis that the content of the sacrifices mattered, the key difference was the faith (or lack of faith) of the worshipers (Heb. 11:4). From God’s point of view, sacrifices without right hearts and motives are never acceptable (cf. Is. 1:10-17).

Abel offered a sacrifice that pleased God, and was commended as a righteous man. Cain, on the other hand, reacted to God’s disfavor and merciful instructions (Gen. 4:7) with anger and murder (cf. Prov. 29:10). God’s warning came true--in the end, sin mastered Cain (cf. 1 Jn. 3:12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you guarding your heart diligently? “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Prov. 4:23). Would God be pleased with your ideas and influences? As the story of Cain and Abel demonstrates, there’s a lot at stake in these questions!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 22:1-18
Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me. - Genesis 22:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Dome of the Rock is one of the most impressive buildings still intact from the ancient Middle East. The oldest surviving Islamic monument, it was built in the late seventh century as a shrine for pilgrims. The Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, is traditionally said to have ascended to heaven from there.

Medieval Christians thought the Dome was the Temple of Solomon. It is indeed located on the Temple Mount, where Solomon”s Temple and its successors stood long ago.

This site is sacred to Jews as well. A large slab of rock under the Dome is the place where tradition says Abraham prepared his son Isaac to be sacrificed. Solomon built the Temple on “Mount Moriah” (2 Chron. 3:1), while God had told Abraham to go to the “region of Moriah” (Gen. 22:2) for the offering of Isaac.

In complete faith, Abra-ham immediately obeyed, though his emotions must have been churning. Offerings to the Lord seemed to be customary at this time (v. 7), but this occasion was clearly different. Right from verse 1, God”s command is shown to be a test of faith (cf. Deut. 8:2) the same central issue as in yesterday”s story of Cain and Abel.

Abraham passed the test with flying colors. He trusted God with his only son the miracle child of his old age, the child of promise. He believed that God could resurrect Isaac from the dead if necessary (Heb. 11:17-19). This total submission and obedience to God”s commands proved the strength of his faith (Gen. 22:12).

The ram that God provided (Gen. 22:8, 13-14) is Scripture”s first mention of a substitutionary sacrifice. The ram, as well as Abraham”s willingness to sacrifice his son and his belief in the possibility of resurrection for Isaac, links today”s reading with Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Abraham”s faith versus Cain”s faithlessness presents a vivid contrast. Abraham”s total submission to God”s will showed his heart and earned God”s praise, while Cain”s actions showed his heart and earned God”s punishment.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Numbers 21:4-9
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. - John 3:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Blood transfusions save lives. The American Associ-ation of Blood Banks reports that about 40,000 units of blood are needed on any given day. Four million patients receive about 23 million units of blood annually.

Who receives these transfusions? Accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer, and other diseases. For these people, a blood transfusion is often the difference between life and death!

In today’s reading, the Israelites needed a spiritual “blood transfusion.” Their sinful and rebellious attitude had shown itself in impatience concerning a detour, complaints about hardships, ingratitude for manna, and a lack of faith in God’s leader, Moses. This faithlessness resulted in a deadly plague of snakes which were killing the people.

The Israelites repented and asked Moses to intercede for them. God’s response required them to show their repentance by a simple act of faith. Moses made a bronze serpent, and lifted it up on a pole. To be healed, people had to look at the serpent. If they didn’t believe God’s words, they wouldn’t look up and would therefore die. Only through faith could they be saved.

This episode from Exodus prefigures Christ’s sacrifice (Jn. 3:14-15). Those who believed Moses and looked to the serpent were healed. Similarly, those who believe God and look to Christ receive eternal life. God offered His only Son as the sacrifice for sin (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 8:32).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like a blood transfusion, or like the bronze serpent in today’s reading, faith in Jesus Christ makes the difference between life and death . . . for eternity.