Transformed – teen devotion – March 10, 2024
One truth shared: Our reason says, “I must get better for God to love me,” but Jesus shows us love first in his sacrifice.
Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Numbers 21:9
Look out, look up
Imagine that heaven is like a city and religion is the road in and out of it. If people got to design heaven, they would get to devise the way to get there. If God created heaven (and he did), he determines how to get there. It might make sense or feel better to check items off a list of difficult things to do to get right before God… but somehow, we find ourselves always lacking. When we look inside ourselves for a solution to missing the mark (sin), there is no satisfaction.
Today’s Bible reading is an example of God creating a way to get right with him. The people of Israel had bitterly complained about God. Now they were dying from poisonous snake bites and realized they needed to be saved. There were normal treatments for snake bites. A cold compress to help with the fever, tie off the affected area so the poison doesn’t spread, suck out the venom… but God told Moses, “Put a bronze snake on a pole. Tell the people if they look at it, they will live.” Look to this hanging, cold, lifeless thing and trust that God saves. It defies logic. Without any contribution on my part, just look up and trust that God saves.
Salvation can seem extremely complicated because it’s so simple. We would like to contribute and deserve forgiveness. But God takes full responsibility for our salvation so we would know it is complete and good. Don’t overthink this one, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14,15). Lift your eyes from what you’ve done or failed to do and trust that Jesus has you covered, forgiven, completely. You have peace with God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I wish I could tell you all the good things I’ve done and changed, but sin still echoes through my mind. Thank you for forgiving these sins. Thank you for moving my focus off my sin to focus on your sacrifice. Your grace is enough. I’ll lift my head up and trust that your payment is enough. Amen.
