Looking to Jesus

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
Numbers 21:1-22:20

"So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."  Numbers 21:9 (NKJV)

Often times we struggle to "get our faith up."  Perhaps it seems that difficulties have increased, and God seems far away.  We hope to restore some sense of closeness, so we muster up our faith as best we can -- and try to believe.  This can be a rather rigorous undertaking.  Our mind may be trying to focus on God, while our heart feels very empty.  Positive mental attitude can only take you so far. 

The weight of responsibility to keep your faith up can be a heavy load.  Especially if you are already physically tired.  At times like these, this passage has always been a source of inspiration to me.  Moses spoke to those who were "bitten by serpents."  He said that had to do only one thing:  "LOOK." 

This is the fundamental thing God calls each of us to do:  simply LOOK AT JESUS.  Faith is not a feeling, it is "looking."  Faith is not even an attitude, it is LOOKING.  Just stop and stare at Jesus.  We need do nothing more, and under His care, health will be released to us. 

Unbelief is when we look away from Jesus.  It is when we start to look at other things -- our own condition, our circumstances, our failings.  When we look elsewhere, we will be discouraged and disappointed.  But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.  We need do but one thing:  LOOK AT JESUS.