Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":
The latest National Geographic bombards one with vivid pictures showing how millions are squeezed into flimsy shanties in the enormous slum cities of Africa. I am a life-long missionary to Africa; I belong there somewhere. How can those multi-millions learn what makes “the gospel of Christ.... the power of God unto salvation”? (Rom. 1:16). Our infinite “Father which art in heaven” is great enough to know each one personally, to care for each one as the purchase of the sacrifice of His Son. But they must learn about Him who died so that those who believe “should not perish.” We have a task--to tell the world.
Likewise the millions crowded into the scarce lands of the Middle East, especially Palestine (claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as descendants of Abraham). The God of Abraham gave His apostle Paul the understanding of the problem that afflicts both sides: “‘Abraham believed God and it [his faith] was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith [in Christ] are sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:6, 7). Abraham had TWO sons--Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac was the child of faith, and God stipulated that “in Isaac shall your seed be called” (Gen. 21:7; Rom. 9:7). Ishmael was the child of unbelief. Says Paul, “These [two sons] are the two covenants” (Gal. 4:24). Ishmael was the child of self-will, of unbelief; but Isaac’s birth was a miracle of faith.
Physical descent from Isaac (or Ishmael) does not guarantee the inheritance of real estate; “those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” And “inheritance” is not the sands of Palestine or of Iraq, it’s the earth made new with its capital city, New Jerusalem. The humblest inhabitant of the sprawling cities of the world is a child of Abraham if he believes the New Covenant promises (but he needs to learn what they are!). A life of faith now, even in poverty, is infinitely better than one spent in unbelief--which is what it means to perish.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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