A Thousand Words of a Ravenous Wolf

 One of the most recognizable verses in the Bible is John 3:16.  It's in t-shirts, coffee mugs, and bumper stickers.  However, as I was reading through John 3, the preceding verses really struck me.  It is fascinating that the more times I read the Bible the easier it is to view it as one connected story pointing to Christ.  The first time I read of Moses raising the snake in the wilderness to bring healing to the people of Israel, it just seemed like one of the eccentric things the patriarchs did in the Old Testament.  It didn't really register as a sign post pointing to Jesus. Now, when I read this story, I can't help but think of Jesus' work on the Cross.  The the snake brought healing to the people of Israel after their disobedience, Jesus brought healing to the world. 'Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against

 This verse reminds me of when I most keenly feel the need for boldness.  It generally isn't when I'm confronted by a big hurdle or unsurmountable obstacle. It's when I feel ill-equipped to handle the task before me.  How can I feel bold facing the mundane annoyances a typical day throws at me? I am reminded today that whatever challenge God places in my path, I can be confident that God is in the battle with me.  That's an encouraging thought.