Moody, the wartime evangelist - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:14-15

During the American Civil War, the preacher Moody, who later became a well-known evangelist, acted as a chaplain in the field. He once told a seriously wounded soldier: "I would willingly take you to heaven on my shoulders, if I could, but I can't." - "Well, who can?" asked the soldier. - "Only Jesus Christ. That's why He came."
The soldier shook his head: "No, He can't save me; I've been sinning all my life." - "But the Lord Jesus came precisely to save sinners," Moody retorted. Then he read him various scriptures from the Bible, among them the words: "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."
The soldier interrupted him: "Does it say that in the Bible?" - "Yes, in those words!" - "Please read them to me again."
Moody did so. The injured soldier made an effort to sit up and said, "That's good." He asked the preacher to read the verses once more. Moody read them and continued to the end of the chapter. When he looked the soldier's face, he saw it shining with peace and heard him whisper, "that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." The dying man opened his eyes and said, "That's all that's needed." He lived for only a few hours more, relying on the Lord's promise in those verses. Then he went to be with Christ in paradise in peace.
Today's reading: Ezekiel ch. 21