Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":
The Father has so loved us, unworthy sinners, that He gave us His only Son, a gift for eternity. He is the “brother born for adversity” (Prov. 17:17), and our “Friend closer than a brother” ( 18:24). Jesus will forever remain what He was given to be—one of us, the Son of God but now forever, the Son of man. As He sits at the Father’s right hand in heaven, He feels lonely there, for His heart is with us.
He can never forget His divinity nor can He forget His humanity; He is one. He has promised to come again the second time, visibly, personally, literally; but not only does He want to keep His promise, He wants to come on His own—that His people may be with Him, one with Him (cf. John 14:1-3). The reason? He loves them!
That means He is lonely in heaven; He has loved every individual believer since the world began, vast multitudes now sleeping in the grave; He loved each one individually (excuse me, I have a mother who died at 42 when I was only 2; I never knew her) but the Lord Jesus knew her personally and He longs to bring us together in the resurrection morning. Think of the joy that awaits Him! Only someone infinite could experience a joy that will be infinite in itself!
We have often thought of the joy that will be ours in that glad morning; but let us enlarge our hearts a bit and think of the joy that will be His! And think how He longs for that day to come, yet He has been disappointed time and again as His own people have in various ways postponed the joyous day.
We are living in the time when God’s people are to grow up “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”(Eph. 4:13). The church is many individuals, but it is to become the Bride of Christ at the “marriage of the Lamb.” All who “grow up” in the Lord are “guests at the wedding” (don’t turn that invitation down!). But as a corporate body, the church becomes the Bride of the Lamb (cf. Rev. 19:7, 8).
The Chinese have said that a picture is worth a thousand words; here’s the picture (Song of Solomon 5:2-7). The girl whom the Bridegroom loves has gone to bed; He has been on a journey; He has come “home” to her; it’s night; it’s raining; He’s hungry; but most of all He longs for her; she is snug in bed, warm and cozy; He is knocking at her door (the Hebrew text says He is banging on the door); she doesn’t want to give up her comfort and let Him in—she snuggles closer; He keeps on banging; finally, she “grows up” enough to forget her selfish comfort and thinks of Him out there in the rain and cold and decides to let Him in.
But when she opens the door, He is gone.
That’s another portrait of the church that Revelation says is Laodicea (cf. 3:14-21).
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is available 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.
