September 12—Morning—John 3:14, 15
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." — John 3:14, 15

Pause, my soul, over these words, and remember that they are the words of Jesus. Call to mind the wonderful event to which Christ refers, in the church's history in the wilderness, as related in Numbers 21:5-9. Israel had sinned, and the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, which bit them, and they died. In their distress, they cried to the Lord, and the Lord appointed this method of cure. A figure of a serpent was made in brass, to which Israel was commanded to look only, and be healed. Those who did so lived. If any refused, they died. This was the ordinance of God. "Now," says Jesus, "as Moses, at the command of God, lifted up the serpent, so must I be lifted up, that whoever believes in Me shall never perish, but have eternal life."

Now, my soul, mark what the Savior says, and see the blessedness contained in His precious assurance. It was a serpent that stung the Israelites. It was the old serpent, the devil, that poisoned our nature at the fall. All his temptations, assaults, and poisons are fiery. And when the dreadful effects of sin are felt in the awakened conscience, how do they burn with terrors in the soul! What could the dying Israelite do to heal those venomous bites? Nothing. Would medicine cure? No. Was there no remedy within the power of man? No; it baffled all art, it resisted all attempts to heal. Such is sin. No prayers, no tears, no efforts, no repentance can wash away sin. If the sinner is to be restored, it must be by the interposition and mercy of God alone.

Now observe the method God took with Israel—a figure of brass. And if, as some say, anything shining like brass, when looked upon by a person with a diseased head and brain, would make them mad, so far was this serpent of brass from being likely to cure; it was the most unpromising thing in the world to accomplish it. But yet it was God's command, and that was enough. It infallibly cured. Look now to Christ. Here also is God's appointment, God's command, God's authority. Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and though holy in Himself, yet became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. The single precept is, "Look unto Me, and be saved."

What, must I do nothing, bring nothing, take nothing? No. The answer is, "Look unto Me." This is the appointed way. Christ is the one and only ordinance; Christ is the Altar, Offering, and High Priest. "If you lift up your tool upon it, you have polluted it." Christ is the Father's gift for healing. In Jesus, there is a fullness to heal. Faith then has a double plea—the authority of God the Father and the fullness of salvation in God the Son.

Lord, I take this as my warrant. Help me, blessed Spirit, to look, to depend, to fix my whole soul on this complete remedy for all my need, that heaven and earth may witness for me, I seek salvation in no other, being fully convinced that there is salvation in no other; "neither is there any other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved."

September 12—Evening—1 Corinthians 12:13
"And have all been made to drink into one Spirit." — 1 Corinthians 12:13

What a most lovely and endearing representation is given here of the various members of Christ's mystical body, all united to their one glorious and common Head, and, like many branches of the vine, deriving everything of life, grace, and fruitfulness from Him! "They have all been made to drink into one Spirit." Yes, the Lord the Spirit, the Holy Ghost the Comforter, whose gracious influence first unites them to Jesus, also unites them in Him to one another.

Hence, though distant and remote from each other; divided and separated by different lands, countries, and languages; though unknown by face to one another, yes, even in language, manners, and customs wholly dissimilar; and of different degrees of knowledge, understanding, and attainment in the divine life; yet, by being one with Christ, they are also one with each other, and "are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones;" part of the universal Church, constituting one complete whole, of which Christ is the Head: "whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

My soul, if you could ask the native of any country or climate who is a true member of Christ's body about his feelings toward sin and his views of Jesus, you would find a complete correspondence with your own. He has groaned for sin, just as you have groaned; and he has found Jesus precious, just as you have found Him. And what is the source of all this but that one and the same almighty Teacher has been the instructor of both? "We have all been made to drink into one Spirit!" He is the source and fountain of spiritual life, sustenance, and strength for all! And just as the first quickenings of grace arise from His divine influences, so it is from His blessed impressions that believers are sealed and secured until the day of eternal redemption.

Hail, holy and almighty Lord! Cause the whole Church of Jesus to forever live at the fountainhead of mercies, "who have all been made to drink into one Spirit!"

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by Robert Hawker