Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

Several times our California governor has spoken compassionately of the more than a thousand home owners whose homes have burned in this dreadful conflagration. He remarks that he sympathizes with people who have struggled and worked and saved and sacrificed in order to buy a house that they can live in. And then “in one hour, it’s gone,” he says.

For these many people owning a home was their lifetime dream.

While these disasters come, let us remember that our heavenly Father still loves us; and our Savior is working night and day as our High Priest to attract our attention to building a house that cannot burn.

Paul speaks of that in these words: “You are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. ...

“If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw; each one’s work will become manifest: for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward; if anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss.”

But let’s pause here in reading this dramatic promise. Paul goes on:

Yet he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire ...” (1 Cor. 3:9-15). Imagine a homeowner in San Diego coming back and finding his house in ashes, only the concrete slab intact. That is “loss” to “suffer.” No more showing his friends how nice his house is.

But if he is a sane, happy man, he will indeed rejoice that he himself has been “saved through fire.”

To be happy, think of yourself as owning nothing more of this earth’s goods than a pile of ashes. Then thank the loving Savior that you still have your life.

And then be happy forever singing the 23rd Psalm: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Remember that Jesus died penniless on His cross. For sure He doesn’t want you to be penniless; but He wants you to appreciate what you do have as a gift from Him and receive His gift of happiness which is not dependent on this world’s goods, which can go up “in one hour” (read Rev. 18:17).

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

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