<x-tad-bigger>Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":
Do you share the same temptations I have, the same allurements of the
world, the same problems with the love of self? Some people think they
have outgrown temptations to sin and they are ready to walk through
the pearly gates; not me. I am still the “chief of sinners” (1 Tim.
1:15), “less than the least of all saints” (Eph. 3:8), and “without
[Christ I] can do nothing” (John 15:5). “In my flesh dwelleth no good
thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not” (Rom. 7:18).
I read how Paul was on some kind of cloud nine when he said, “The love
of Christ constraineth us,” so that “we should not henceforth live
unto [self], but unto Him [who] died for us and rose again” (2 Cor.
5:14, 15). Selfless living! Victory over the plague of sin! The end of
defeats! What a wonderful plateau of living if I could just get there!
But that “love of Christ” doesn’t seem to make enough difference with
me; I feel like Martin Luther when he confessed to his “father
confessor,” “I hate Jesus!” An awful thing to say--but it was the
beginning of Luther’s true conversion for at last he had said
something that was true. “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom.
8:7), and that’s my “mind.” When a little ray of light begins to get
through, I realize that I am no better than those people who crucified
Christ long ago. Whatever problem I have, multitudes have the same;
they look at the cross, count Rosaries, sing hymns, try to pray--still
they feel lukewarm. Why doesn’t the story of the cross move them to
selfless living for Christ?
They don’t realize, or “comprehend” (Eph. 3:18) that when He died on
His cross, He died our second death! He “poured out His soul unto
death” (the real thing! Isa. 53:12), He “emptied Himself” (Phil. 2:6,
7), “gave Himself for our sins” (Gal. 1:4), no lending Himself! Yet
the vast world believe in natural immortality which denies all this.
It’s impossible to appreciate what Christ did (if one believes) and
then not live a selfless life for Him.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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