June 13, 2024 Devo

June 13th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Jesus & Nicodemus
“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” – John 3:14-15 (NLT)
“The Antidote for Snake Bite”

Jesus was a Master Communicator. Here with Nicodemus, He uses an Old Testament story to describe a coming New Testament event. He references the story from Numbers 21 where the people of Israel sin again and are getting bit by poisonous snakes as a result. Moses cries out to God on their behalf, and God tells him to create a replica of a snake and put it up on a pole. If people got bit, they could look at the pole, and they would live. Jesus gives a foreshadowing of the cross by telling Nicodemus that He, too, would be lifted up on a pole. People who look to Him would find eternal life.
Snake-bit. What a perfect description of our human race. Satan appears in the Garden of Eden and tempts Adam and Eve with the fruit from the forbidden tree. He lies about what the fruit will do to convince them to disobey God. But along with the enlightenment he promised came sin, death, and separation from God. Their disobedience became the generational curse of the world. They believed the serpent and got snake-bit.
That story is played out every day, all around the globe. People believe the lies of the Enemy and suffer the venom of the consequences. Our addictions, our broken relationships, our self-destructive behavior, our self-centered focus, our repeated horrible choices, and our unhappy, unfulfilled lives are all a result of one thing. We’ve been snake-bit! And as long as we continue to listen to his lies, we will allow the Enemy to continue to sow death and destruction in our lives. We need a cure. We need an antidote to the poison the Enemy seeks to inject. Thank God, we have it in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Look to Jesus today, my friend. He is the One you’re looking for. His death on the cross paid for your sins, and His Spirit is the antidote for the poison of our Enemy. Look to Jesus for forgiveness. Look to Jesus as your Guide. Look to Jesus for help and healing. Look to Jesus for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In a snake-bit world that is dying all around us, you don’t have to be a victim anymore. Look to Jesus and LIVE! That’s God’s Word for you today.