Daily Bread

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Does Jesus Really Care?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The general idea the human race has about God is that He is far away. Jesus seems elusive, and "believers" often feel alone. Prayer appears to be unanswered, and they wonder, Does the One who says He is our Savior really care?

There was a man and his wife who had this problem in a big way. They had worship in their home daily for months and years, yes, decades. But the critically important answer they had prayed for a thousand times seemed more impossible every day that passed.

Finally the wife gave up. "The Lord has it in for me," she told her husband; "I'm the problem. God will never answer our prayers as long as I pray. I'm too sinful for any prayer to be answered! It's hopeless. Count me out. This marriage just won't work."

The husband decided to do just that--ignore her, press on without her. No longer did the two kneeling join their hearts in earnest, soul-stretching, believing prayer together. They had always loved each other but now became so alienated that they together dis-believed that God had made them "one." The farness-away-from-God idea had destroyed their happiness, both of them.

It meant God had a problem on His hands because He had chosen this particular husband to be "the father of all who believe" in Him throughout all time; and here they were, two stumbling along in depressed unbelief. The wife was just as important a link in God's plan as he was. The husband could never overcome unbelief until the wife did also. (Her name, incidentally--Sarah).

If you are a true child of Abraham, make up your mind: you will be just as tempted to unbelief as he was; but by the grace of Christ you can overcome as he (and Sarah!) did.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 11, 2002.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

How Can Evil People Become Good People?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How can evil people become good people?

The problem of evil is with us worldwide; and we in all lands and in all cultures wrestle with it.

The common solution adopted in all time and in all cultures is the motivation of fear. What's constantly proclaimed is, Do what's right and you won't have to suffer. So we have policemen everywhere, and "the law." In some lands, including the U.S., the jails are full.

But the problem of evil and evil people continues. So people say, Let's be practical: fear has to be the motivation that works. Fill the prisons! But the gospel of Jesus Christ is based on a different motivation: the power of God's "much more abounding grace." That only can change human hearts from evil to righteousness.

John the Baptist told the people, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). John was right in what he said! Jesus does "take away" the sin of the world! By His sacrifice on His cross He has redeemed the entire world. The Father sent Him to "give life unto the world" (John 6:33). Even our daily bread which we eat is purchased for us by His sacrifice. Jesus accomplished something for every one, even though most people disregard Him!

But if we "eat" without acknowledging our indebtedness to Him, we "eat ... damnation" to our souls because of our unbelief (see 1 Cor. 11:29).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 29, 2008.

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Is the Devil Asleep? What Will Wake Him Up?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Some times it seems hard to believe in God when you think of all the wrong that's going on. There seem to be so few good people. How could anyone doubt that there is a personal devil when you think of all the evil in the world.

I would like to ask you a question. Is the devil asleep? You may say, "How could you ask that question when you see so much of his activity everywhere?" But I ask again, is the devil asleep? Or at least partly so?

Things could be so much worse than they are; for example, take the matter of liberty. Here in the U.S. we have the freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. It could be much worse--in fact, the Bible says that the time is coming when the beast will enforce the worship of his mark, and all who will not receive the mark must be killed.

And take the matter of food--most of us seem to get enough to eat; but still, there are many people all over the world who are starving. But things could be much worse than they are now. Compared to what the devil is yet to do according to Bible prophecy, he is asleep today--comparatively speaking.

What will wake him up? Revelation 12:17 tells us that "the dragon [devil] was wroth with the woman [church] and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." What will wake the devil up will be a deep and true revival in the church of Christ, so that every member becomes on fire for God and His truth. When Christian people are filled with the Spirit, Satan will become enraged; and then will come the final events that will happen just before the coming of the Lord.

"Well," someone may say, "why not just let him sleep--why stir him up?" We are living in a kind of twilight zone, enchanted land, just now; but we dare not compromise with evil in order to make peace with the devil. All who love the Lord Jesus and appreciate what He has done for them, will want to proclaim His Good News of the gospel, regardless of how it may annoy Satan.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: Phone message, circa 1973.

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Saturday, February 11, 2012

New Covenant Sabbath-keeping

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Keeping the Sabbath day is not a matter of cold obedience, motivated by fear if we don't keep it, nor hope of reward if we do. That is Old Covenant day-keeping.

New Covenant Sabbath-keeping is heart-to-heart companionship with the One who is "the Lord of the Sabbath." He said to Moses, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest" (Ex. 33:14), thus teaching us that the "rest" that is in the Sabbath consists of enjoying His "presence." It is recognizing, believing, that you are spending the day with your Savior, personally.

"But keeping the Sabbath is boring for me! I can't wait until the so-called 'sacred hours' are over, so I can live again--turn on my TV, watch DVDs, play games, go to the mall. With Sabbath over, fun begins again, time to 'live' until the boring day comes again a week later. I love the fun when being 'holy' is over."

If in the tiniest way this is your "Sabbath-keeping," here is Good News for you:

(1) "The Lord of the Sabbath" will totally transform your experience, if you don't interpose a rebellious will to stop Him (He is the High Priest cleansing His sanctuary--He does the work). Of course, He feels wounded, slighted, insulted by your resentment of His presence. You'd feel terrible to visit a friend and he snubs you, avoids you, insults you. But "the Lord of the Sabbath" isn't out to take revenge. He's not mad at you; He feels terribly sorry for you. You are missing the joy of life itself, and on the way to miss eternity.

(2) When you attend church on the outs with Him like that, it's no use to sing, "My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine," etc. The more you sing or pray hypocrisy, the more miserable you become. For you, "the law" functions as a jailer, a disciplinarian, the so-called "schoolmaster" of Galatians 3:22-25. Its job is precisely that--to make you miserable under the Old Covenant until you long for the New Covenant. You've got prima facie evidence that the Lord loves you! Understand the secret of this insight, and if your heart isn't as hard as a stone, you will sense that you are on the way to healing.

(3) Now, what to DO? The answer is not to play at this or that as an exercise in more legalism; Jesus clearly tells what your job is: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:29).

(4) "But I don't know how to believe!" Very well, make a choice to stop dis-believing. Let the first sacred moments of the Sabbath find you using some sanctified common sense: the Lord of the Sabbath comes with it. Be decent to Him, at least as much as you would if your neighbor dropped in for a visit. Tell Him, yes; tell Him of your frustrations. Be honest: tell Him, "Lord, I believe; [but] help Thou My unbelief" (Mark 9:24; you can never lose out if you pray that prayer).

(5) Be courteous to your Guest, Unseen but not Unknown. Stop driving Him away! Therefore, turn off your TV, DVDs, CDs. Give your Guest a chance to say something to your heart for these 24 holy hours.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 1, 2003.

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Friday, February 10, 2012

"We Are Not There Yet," but When Is "There"?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

I heard an evangelist seeking to tell the people Good News, and toward the end of his talk he said: "The next time you sin--and you WILL sin again, for we are not there yet--remember, God loves you and forgives you." This set me to thinking and pondering. What does "there" mean? Some time when those who believe the Good News will stop sinning? Yes. But when is "there"?

It seems that God's intention is that "there" is when Christ died for us. He "condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." "There" seems to be already now: "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid!" (Rom. 8:3, 4; 6:14, 15).

If we are "under fear," yes, we can pretty well plan to keep on sinning, because "fear has torment" and is powerless to save FROM sin (1 John 4:18). But to be "under grace" is to be under a new motivation of appreciation for what it cost the Son of God to save us. Such "grace" makes it impossible for us to go on living IN sin. Such "grace" revealed in the love (agape) of Christ "constrains us" to total obedience to the law of God. When we are "under grace," the Ten Commandments become ten promises of victory over sin. "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us" something that we can learn NOW (not sometime "there" in the future): "to say 'No!' to ungodliness and worldly passions" (Titus 2:11, NIV).

Paul seems to have been concerned about this issue of when "there" is to be. He seems to think that "there" is now: "Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:14). To say, "We WILL sin again!" even though the dear Lord forgives us, seems to be making a "provision."

But suppose you DO "sin again"? "Confess" and the Lord is "faithful and just to forgive," yes; but in the same breath John says, "I write unto you, that ye sin not" (1 John 1:9; 2:1).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 2, 2001.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Treasure God's Law as Ten New Covenant Promises

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If you are one of many, the New Covenant/Old Covenant tension is dry-as-dust dead theology, like memorizing the Book of Leviticus. (For way too many, keeping the Sabbath holy is just that--boring!)

If you have picked up the Old Covenant in school or in church (and you probably have), the idea of "following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth" frightens you. And Old Covenant ideas are subtle, a virus that burrows "bondage" deep in your soul (Gal. 4:24). Those ideas get lodged and as long as you harbor them you find it hard to understand or believe New Covenant ideas.

Some dear saints may even warn you against too much New Covenant in your thinking. They say it's got to be "balanced" with appropriate Old Covenant caveats. The latter rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit (that will complement Pentecost) will be pure New Covenant; and they'll be afraid of it. It'll go over their heads and they'll sleep right through the glorious Loud Cry that will lighten the earth with glory (Rev. 18:1-4). It will be like the Jews who heard Jesus preach but never knew their Messiah had come; they missed everything. As in the time of Paul, "devout and honourable women, and the chief men" can try to squash any little spark of New Covenant life in your soul (cf. Acts 13:50). New Covenant gospel truth must be grabbed the moment the Lord sends it your way. "I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments," says the Psalmist (119:60; meaning, to treasure God's law as ten New Covenant promises).

New Covenant life is that "more abundant" one that Jesus promised (John 10:10). Yes, never a dull moment. "You mean you'll never have any troubles?" No, you'll have troubles but you'll never be alone in them. "The Lord is my Shepherd, … I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23). No one on earth ever lived the New Covenant more fully than the Lord Jesus Himself. Was Gethsemane boring? The cross? Strenuously tempted, He held on to believing that His Father wouldn't actually "forsake" Him. Even on His cross when it seemed for certain that He had, Jesus wouldn't give in to the "doubts that assailed the dying Son of God." He chose to BELIEVE the New Covenant promises right through until He cried His shout of sunlit victory that thrilled Heaven and earth, "It's finished!"

Life apart from Him IS boring. What you may think can't be true IS true: "In [His] presence is fullness of joy; ... pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). Yes, even in sharing His cross.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 31, 2004.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Believe the Preamble

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If you memorize the Ten Commandments but omit the Preamble, you have a stern code of law, Old Covenant in nature. If you permit the Preamble to be where God spoke it, you have a New Covenant set of ten delightful promises.

The Hebrew scholars tell us that the "Thou shalt nots" are the simple future tense indicatives; for example, believe this and you will never steal. "Adultery is a trap--it catches those with whom the Lord is angry," says the Wise Man (Prov. 22:14, Good News Bible). Believe this Preamble, and you will never fall into that pit, says the Lord. (That's really Good News!)

What does the Preamble say (Ex. 20:1, 2)? It's New Testament, New Covenant, Good News:

"I am the LORD ..." That holy name of infinite mystery; the Israelites were afraid to say it, but now we know He is "our Father in heaven" (Matt. 6:9), your intimate best Friend who's on your side.

"Your God ..." He's yours; He actually gave Himself to you.

"Who [past tense] brought you out of the land of Egypt ... ," in other words, out of darkness of soul. The Father brought you into the light; the Son has saved you from hell, having taken the darkness of your second death; and the blessed Holy Spirit ministers the sunshine of grace upon your soul 24/7.

"Out of the house of bondage." "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Rom. 6:14; sums up the Ten Commandments!). Christ redeemed you before you were born; the Father accepted you then "in Him." As He gave Esau the birthright, so He has given you the gift of salvation (Heb. 12:16, 17; Gen. 25:34; Rom. 5:15-18). The Holy Spirit is telling your heart about it--don't despise or sell it. Now, believe the Preamble.

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 25, 2006.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

A Fantastically Clever Deception

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Several versions of the Ten Commandments have been published. In our ever present hurry to condense, we humans have devised one version that entirely omits the second commandment (forbidding "to bow down to graven images") but splitting the tenth to make up the coveted "ten." Protestants vigorously oppose this version.

Another truncated version of the Ten Commandments omits most of the fourth, leaving humanity helplessly adrift in identifying the Lord's day (or Sabbath day).

But there is another version that has suffered a more sophisticated, and therefore more clever mutilation: it faithfully reproduces the "ten" but omits the Preamble. But the Preamble is expressly declared in the original to be part of "all these words" that "God spake" (Ex. 20:1). Leave out the fluff, is the idea; let's get to the real stuff--the "obedience" that God requires under pain of consignment to hell.

But … leave out the Preamble and what you have is an Old Covenant code of law. The "I am the Lord" is the Lawgiver, but the idea of His already being a Savior is muffled. Face it, the Old Covenant is immensely popular, both outside the church and inside; Old Covenant ideas are what we humans naturally gravitate to. They have been our obsession for 6000 years. There's an almost irresistible gravitation of thought toward the idea expressed as "obedience." The deception is fantastically clever because obedience is indeed required; but the deception lies in the idea that hard work and painful self-denial will produce it.

This particular truncated version is the favorite used for children to memorize. They are imbued with Old Covenant ideas from their kindergarten years. Read the Preamble; grasp what it says. More tomorrow.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 24, 2006.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Monday, February 06, 2012

Open Your Heart to Your Heavenly Father

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When Jesus gave us permission to address His Father as "our Father which art in heaven," He gave us complete confidentiality with Him.

He emphasized secrecy (Matt. 6:1-6): (a) We are not to make our acts or gifts of worship to be "seen of men"; (b) we are not to seek "glory of men"; (c) we are not to let our left hand know what our right hand does--here again is ultimate secrecy; (d) thy " Father … seeth in secret"; (e) when we pray to Him, we are to "enter into thy closet, … shut thy door, [and] pray to thy Father which is in secret"; (f) then "thy Father which seeth in secret ... shall reward thee openly."

The word "Father" brings up the most tender memories of our childhood, yes, babyhood. The first syllable we could utter as a baby was "ba"--which became our "Ba-ba."

We revered our earthly father; as children he stood to us in the place of God. Yes, his task was to reveal the heavenly Father to us, and to interpret to us aright His love, His fidelity.

This is the idea in Romans 8 where we read, "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage ... to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (vs .15).

Our first cry as a baby is not "Abba, Father," but "abba, father." We don't know yet to cry to God; our earthly father interprets God to us.

If he is a God-reverencing person, kind, unselfish, loving, then he is interpreting the love (agape) of the heavenly Father to us. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; you are very fortunate.

Sometimes an earthly father does not know how to interpret to the child the love (agape) of the heavenly Father. In those cases it can become emotionally difficult for the person to learn to be happy "in Christ"; but don't turn away, never, not for a moment. Let your heavenly Father intervene: He is much, much greater than your earthly father; His influence in your life is out of all bounds far greater than the influence your earthly father was to you; yes, let Him into your life.

Share with Him alone (that's what it means that Jesus said, "shut your door to your closet"), open your heart with all your shame and guilt. Your heavenly "Father seeth in secret." He alone is your true "Father-Confessor." Pour it all out to Him "in secret"; He will reward thee "openly," that is, with full salvation, healing, in Christ.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 9, 2008.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

New Covenant Good News

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Throughout history it is deeply engrained in human thinking that salvation is initially dependant on human initiative. Nothing happens until like the prodigal son we say, "I will arise and go.” But did Jesus teach that the salvation of the prodigal son was due to his own initiative? In eternity, will he boast, "I'm here because I came home”? Or will he thank God for his father's love that spoke hope to his heart even while he was sitting in the pigsty? Was it is his own initiative that drove him to "arise and go” or was it the drawing of that love?

It appears that the teaching of Jesus was clear that "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me” (John 12:32). He did not teach that those who are saved at last are those who come under their own self-starter power.

No Bible character was in a more hopeless condition of failure and frustration than Sarai, wife of Abram. She desperately prayed for 25 years that God's will be done in her life to get her pregnant. She knew it was the will of God, but nothing happened, only failure. She was bitter; and before you condemn her, put yourself in her place. We learn an interesting lesson in reading of what the Lord did for her.

He did NOT tell her, "When you straighten yourself up and stop being angry with Me, then I will enable you to get pregnant!” Rather He spoke New Covenant Good News to her soul; and all she did was listen. There was nothing she COULD do but listen and believe! (And that, incidentally, is exactly the meaning of the Hebrew word for "obey” in Exodus 19:5.) The Lord gave her the glorious Good News that her name was changed to "Princess,” He promised to make her "a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her” (Gen. 17:16), and the naked Good News itself changed her heart! The Good News in that New Covenant promise reconciled her alienated heart to God. Yes, she believed; but look again, the initiative was taken by God.

By the way, what can the dead do on the resurrection day to help resurrect themselves? Or is their part simply to "hear His voice, and come forth”? (John 5:28, 29). For sure, that "voice” is going to be glorious Good News, isn't it? Maybe we should start learning how to "listen” to it now.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 26, 2003.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Truth Has Not Died!

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Many church members are broken-hearted, dismayed, and discouraged by apostasy they see overwhelming their church; they are tempted to stay home on Sabbath.

The Enemy seems to be coming in as "a flood," but the Lord has promised, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him" (Isa. 59:19). That is happening today! The Lord is faithful!

The church where they were baptized seems to have departed from the faith. There is now a new meaning to the solemn words of Jesus: "On the earth distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken" (Luke 21:25-26).

It's those "powers of heaven" being "shaken" that so distresses sincere, honest-minded people. The Psalmist anticipated this when he said, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).

Answer: They must stand firm even if the foundations around them crumble. The Lord has placed these messages in His Bible to alert us of the terrible "shaking" that must come. The answer to the Psalmist's question is clear: stand for the "truth of the gospel." Bear witness of your faith; the Protestant Reformation was a work of the Holy Spirit, but even Protestantism has now crumbled, and no longer is protestant; but nevertheless the Holy Spirit keeps the spirit of "protest" alive. Truth has not died.

In the final "shaking" everything that has been built up may crumble around us like ashes after a fire. "Think it not strange," says the apostle Peter, "concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you."

The Lord is a jealous God, He has tremendous Self-respect, determined not to let the Jews crucify Christ again, and also determined not to let His glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain to be "insulted"again. When Laodicea lays her self-righteous, proud offering on His altar, "rich and increased with goods," when in reality she is of all the seven churches of history the most "wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked," He will treat her offering as He treated the offering of Cain--just walk away until it withers and becomes garbage that the janitor has to cart away. The Lord will not accept the offering of those who choose to remain proud and self-sufficient.

It's time to let the Lord have all there is of us; share the cross of Jesus with Him (that's where we belong, you know). "Humble [ourselves] under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6). Get down to rock bottom.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 19, 2007.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

"It Is Written"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Almighty, the omniscient God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, could well have anticipated our modern film technology, and had an angel camera crew on the scene when Jesus was crucified 2000 years ago. Then we could have it on our screens absolutely accurate--that face of Jesus clear and undistorted by any unavoidably sinful human imitation of Him.

The Father chose not to do it for us. Instead, He chose to "reveal" Him in a Book that itself throbs with life because the same Holy Spirit who inspired it inspires our reading of it. There in the Book "we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death [the second!], crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9).

Every human heart has a built-in monitor screen whereon the Holy Spirit as a projector flashes a true image of Jesus; each individual "sees" Him as the Galatians "saw" Him, "crucified among you" (3:1). This "image" flashed on the conscience by the Holy Spirit is in vivid 3D, in full color, and each believing individual is summoned from the grandstands where he thinks he is only watching and becomes a participant himself in the drama--"crucified with Christ" (2:20) or crucifying Him afresh (Heb. 6:6). And you never in all eternity forget what you "saw" and knew first-hand.

We could complain to the Father that He has deprived us of this actual "movie" that was never recorded on film. But He would have to respond to us that His own Son, Jesus, had no such "movie" setting forth the happenings from creation on to His time. Jesus had to depend instead only on the Word--the Bible. "It is written" had to be His experience. No angel gave Him any advantage greater than you and I have in what is "written" in the Bible.

The Holy Spirit always asks us, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" (Acts 8:30). The Ethiopian invited Philip into his chariot and they read Isaiah 53. Invite the Holy Spirit with you to read the life of Jesus, especially its closing scenes--in Psalm 22, 69, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, etc. Wait on your knees; Give Him time to flash on your conscience the clear, undistorted vision of "Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:1, 2). You'll abhor watching any imitation of it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 24, 2004.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.