In what ways can we "look" to Christ for spiritual healing today? Setting the Scene: A Look That Heals “Then Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole; if anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” (Numbers 21:9) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) The Israelites’ physical healing by merely looking foreshadowed our spiritual healing by looking—believing, trusting, focusing—on Christ crucified and risen. Why We Still Need to “Look” Today • Sin’s venom remains deadly (Romans 6:23). • Christ alone provides the cure (Acts 4:12). • Looking is an act of faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Healing encompasses forgiveness, renewal, and ongoing sanctification (1 Peter 2:24). Practical Ways to Look to Christ for Spiritual Healing • Personal Faith: Cast your full weight on His finished work. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). • Daily Repentance: Turn from sin the moment the Spirit convicts (1 John 1:9). • Scripture Meditation: Fix your eyes on Him through His Word (Hebrews 12:2). • Prayerful Dependence: Bring every wound, fear, and temptation before His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). • Worship and Praise: Exalt the Healer; praise redirects the heart from wounds to the Wonder-Worker (Psalm 103:2-3). • Lord’s Supper: Remember His body and blood, receiving afresh the benefits of the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). • Christian Fellowship: Seek counsel, confession, and encouragement within the body (James 5:16). • Obedient Living: Act on His commands; obedience keeps the eyes fixed and the soul healthy (John 14:21). • Hope in His Return: Look ahead to full restoration when “we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2-3). What Spiritual Healing Looks Like • Guilt replaced by peace (Romans 5:1). • Shame exchanged for confidence before God (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Bondages broken by the power of the Spirit (Galatians 5:1). • Minds renewed, patterns transformed (Romans 12:2). • Relationships reconciled through gospel grace (Colossians 3:12-14). • Enduring hope that outshines present sufferings (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Closing Thought: Keep Looking The first look saves; the continual gaze sanctifies. Each time sin’s venom stings, look again to the One lifted up—there is still room at the cross, and His healing never runs dry. |
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