Friday, May 20, 2005

Dial Daily Bread

<x-tad-bigger>Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

Have you ever thought that Jesus was tempted to regard Himself as a
total failure? As His name was “Emmanuel, . . . God with us” (Matt.
1:23), He took upon His divine nature our complete human nature which
involved the full extent of our temptability. That means that “in all
points [He was] tempted like as we are tempted,” but thank God, “yet
without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

Satan wrung His soul with that awful feeling on His cross that He had
been mistaken about Himself. It was a nameless horror that prompted
His shriek, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). He had
to listen to the people taunting Him, “If You are the Son of God, come
down from the cross”! (40, 42). That was a cruel suggestion for He
could not help but realize that His career had ended with the most
ignominious failure any human could experience--death as a criminal!
His faith was stretched.

In fact, more than once in His life and ministry, Isaiah 49:4 had been
fulfilled in His experience: “Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I
have spent My strength for nothing and in vain.’” And this fierce
temptation comes just as the Father assures Him through the Holy
Spirit, “‘You are My servant, . . . in whom I will be glorified.’” He
gives Himself to His Father: “‘Surely My just reward is with the Lord,
and My work with My God’” (vss. 3, 4).

Even on the cross before He took His last breath, Jesus’ hope was
restored by faith: “The Lord formed Me from the womb, . . . I shall be
glorious in the eyes of the Lord, . . . [to be His] salvation to the
ends of the earth” (5, 6). Though tempted to despair, Jesus ended His
life in glorious triumph by faith.

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<x-tad-bigger>Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread"
again tomorrow.

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