Daily Bread: January 2010

Friday, January 29, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Christ Is a Savior FROM Sin

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

At the bottom of each devotional message you will now see the date when the message was originally sent to DDB readers. To many of you, as new or recent subscribers, these messages are fresh "bread," as they are to those of us who have read them before. Elder Wieland sends his greetings to all of you, his faithful readers and friends, and asks that you join us in prayer that he will soon be able to write these messages again. Please feel free to write him at the following e-mail address. Your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Sincerely, Robert J. Wieland and the "Dial Daily Bread" Staff

dailybread@1888message.org

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To what extent was Jesus in His incarnation tempted like as we are, from within? We cannot dare to go beyond what the Bible says. But neither do we dare to deny or come short of what it does say, regarding our Lord's experience with our temptations. What Scripture does say clearly is: "We have ... an high priest ... touched with the feeling of our infirmities, [who] was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15; the double negatives mean a firm positive). We dare not say that there are some temptations we must endure which Jesus never had to meet! With great respect to them, some Christians teach that when the virgin Mary was in the womb of her mother, the little embryo was miraculously separated from the heredity of all other descendants of the fallen Adam, so that she was born with a sinless nature so she could give to her Son Jesus a sinless nature. That is the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Specifically, this doctrine teaches that Mary was never tempted as we are, for example in sex. This denies what Scripture says.

The word "all points" in Heb. 4:15 is a Greek term that means exactly that--"all." "Infirmities" is the word that means "weaknesses." And the word "like as" in the Greek means "identically," not merely in a similar way.

Only one conclusion seems possible: In His incarnation, Christ had to endure every temptation that we have to meet. Some object, "Was He tempted to watch TV? Eat ice cream? Drink Vodka? Etc. These things were not invented in His day!" The answer has to be yes, He was tempted in principle. He had to meet the temptations of appetite as must we, and also of sensuality, as must we. Hebrews 2:18 in the Greek quite clearly implies that only "in that wherein He Himself hath suffered being tempted, is He able to succor those who are tempted." If we can find some temptation to sin that He never had to meet, in that respect we do not have a Savior from that sin!

His temptations on His cross were certainly from within: His cry, "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" was from deep within His soul. We must accept the Good News that indeed Christ is a Savior FROM sin. We can come "boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in [every] time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

All I can do is encourage you to believe how good the Good News is.

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 9, 2000.
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.

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" 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, January 28, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Lessons From Job (Part 3)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Could you be as important a person in God's great universe as Job was? You may say, "I don't want Job's job! Give me an easier witness assignment!" But you may already have that important witnessing assignment. Both Job and Jesus chose to be loyal to God, to hold on to their faith when there seemed to be no hope whatever; and that was wonderful. They both honored God.

But there must be another development in the great controversy between Christ and Satan before the end can come. There must be a people, a corporate body of "saints," who before the world and the universe demonstrate that they "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12). The same chapter identifies them as "144,000" who "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth" (vss. 1-5). They are a distinct group who are new on the stage of the world in view of the universe who have been watching this grand drama unfold, because they "sing as it were a new song [that] no man could learn but the 144,000" (vs. 3).

That means that they will have a new experience, because no one in the Bible sings a song carelessly or thoughtlessly; each is sung out of deep experience. And if they sing a new experience then they must have a new comprehension of what it cost "the Lamb" to save them. They have identified with Him experientially more closely and deeply than any other corporate body of God's people through all time. Revelation says that they will grow up to a maturity that qualifies them for a unique place in the plan of salvation: "the Lamb's wife."

These people must not come from only one culture or language or society; they are expressly said to be from "every nation, and kindred, and tongue," every tribe on earth. Each must demonstrate that the grace of Christ has been "sufficient" for one from the most sinful, depraved culture on earth, who believes, to "overcome even as [Christ] overcame."

If only "143,999" overcome, the line will be broken. That last one must hold the line. He/she is tremendously important. That one is YOU.

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" 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, January 27, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Lessons From Job (Part 2)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are many links that bind Job on his dung heap with Christ on His cross, and yes, links that bind him to God's people today.

(1) Job had to endure his trial alone. Even his wife told him to "curse God and die." His three best friends turned against him because they couldn't understand him, and in their supposedly orthodox "Christian" way tortured him even further.

(2) So Christ was alone in His agony on the cross. His closest friends, His mother and His eleven disciples left (one had betrayed Him), couldn't understand Him and fled.

(3) So will His people in these last days each one stand alone, people of "every nation, and kindred, and tongue" will each be placed in circumstances where his/her faith will be tried as each is forced to stand alone as a witness for Christ.

(4) In total darkness, with Heaven closed against him, no answers to his prayers, bereft, apparently forsaken by God and by loved ones on earth, Job maintained his loyalty to God.

(5) So Christ with everything against Him, enduring what He knew was the "curse" of God, remained loyal all by Himself.

(6) So will those "144,000" (whether a literal or a symbolic number doesn't matter so far as this principle is concerned) will "follow the Lamb whitherseover He goeth" in their darkest hour of trial when again Heaven seems closed against them and no visible or perceived answer to their prayers comes.

(7) The honor of God, the stability of His throne, His credibility, depended on Job choosing to be loyal in his total darkness and despair. As an individual, Job was God's last hope. If he had taken his wife's advice and cursed God and died, God would have been proved a liar and a failure, and Satan would have won the great controversy. Job was supremely important.

More tomorrow (God willing) about how important YOU are, yes YOU in your tiny sphere.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Welcome to "David's Club"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever been opposed, misrepresented, misunderstood, and as a result, pained? Welcome to "David's Club"! The Holy Spirit has provided for you David's "Prayer Book" wherein you can find encouragement ready-made for every problem life brings to you.

You know that you are unworthy to pray David's prayers as though they were your own, for he was "the anointed of the Lord," and you have this deep feeling that you are not. But God invites you to do exactly that--to identify with David in his prayers. And here's the reason why it's so:

King David had a Son, a distant Descendant, who so immersed Himself deeply in David's Psalms that He earned the title, "The Son of David." And it is He who invites you to identify with David and pray his Psalms as though they were your own prayers, because that is what He did and they became His prayers. God has "predestinated [you] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, ... wherein He hath made [you] accepted in the beloved" (Eph 1:5, 6). Jesus invites you to pray in His name, so that all the encouragement He Himself derived from the Book of Psalms He wants you to absorb also.

You will find this difficult to grasp, that one so unworthy as you know yourself to be should be thus exalted, but you ever afterwards "walk softly" before the Lord and before your fellow humans. David suffered opposition, misrepresentation, even hatred from the people who prided themselves as being God's people, David's fellow-Israelites.

You may suffer problems in your family (so did David, and so did Jesus), or at work, or even (could it be so?) in your church--the place where you expected peace and harmony. A wise writer has reminded us that there is a "supreme court of the universe, from whose decision there [can] be no appeal" (Christ Triumphant, p. 176). David often appealed to that Supreme Court, and so can you. Then you can find rest unto your soul, confident in the decision of that "court."

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Dial Daily Bread: Lessons From Job (Part 1)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Of all the 66 books in the Bible, Job is the one that most vividly reveals the problem all of us face in life: how to understand suffering. And that problem always resolves itself finally into one great, perplexing, painful question: who is this who hates me? Who is bringing on me this undeserved calamity? Is it God, or is it Satan?

Your mind may have the correct answer, but what about your heart? If you are like I am, your heart in its natural, unconverted state, is "enmity against God" (Rom 8:7), and you're only kidding yourself if you think you are an exception. "Why me?" is the universal question we ask when great calamity strikes us, whether by an accident, or cancer, or loss of a human love, or bereavement. Job is I, and you; he is standing in for us. He couldn't figure out what "sin" he was guilty of that provoked God to curse him so terribly with the loss of everything he held dear, even his basic health.

Job is the first Christian book ever written; there are links that bind him on his dung heap wailing out in despair, "Why?" with Christ on His cross in total darkness wailing the same "Why?" God was forced to stake His throne and the stability of the universe itself on this one poor, weak, human man, Job. God had claimed that Job was true and righteous. Satan ridiculed the idea; he wagered that if God were to permit enormous affliction to come on Job, he would turn traitor and "curse God." And God couldn't back out; one human being in supreme wretchedness was holding the line in this great conflict with Satan, and God had to hold His breath in anticipation of what Job would do.

Today there are"144,000" individuals of "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people," each of whom is so important that he/she is holding that same line all alone, like Job did. And, as with Job, there is a link that binds each one to Christ on His cross asking,"Why Me?"

Monday, January 25, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Truth Is Utterly Essential

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century was the greatest spiritual blessing since the apostles --an unfolding of justification by faith that can never be overthrown until the end of time; it was what Paul said is "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5). Truth is utterly essential. Jesus said He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6); He has always been the "Lord God of truth" (Psalm 31:5). "Truth in love" is vitally important because it's "the power of God unto salvation" (Eph. 4:15; Rom. 1:16). It's the revelation of the very character of God.

But does that mean that our understanding of the "truth of the gospel" was frozen in the 16th century so that no later generation can ever perceive a clearer grasp of it? One thing we know for sure--sin has "abounded" since the time of Luther and the Reformers; has the grace of God been restricted so that sin has developed more than our understanding of the gospel can develop? The gospel is "everlasting," but our understanding of it is finite.

To freeze it would be tragedy. The Bible unfolds a greater development in the great controversy between Christ and Satan, for "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom. 5:20). In the 16th century, God was on top of the situation; He still is in this 21st. "The everlasting gospel" will yet "lighten the earth with glory"--a still clearer grasp of saving truth in these last days (Rev. 14:6; 18:1-4). God assures us that He will not permit Satan to out-think the Holy Spirit, for He has more truth to reveal: "The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).

The great Protestant Reformation of justification by faith has prepared untold numbers of precious souls to die prepared to come up in the "first resurrection" (see Rev. 20:6). They can be happy in the kingdom of God forever. Now we've come to the time when the Holy Spirit will reveal a clearer understanding of truth that prepares people for translation at the second coming of Jesus (see 1 Thess. 4:16, 17)--something to do with the "Elijah message."

This means even deeper, clearer understandings of justification and righteousness by faith.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Dial Daily Bread: One of Satan's Sharpest Arrows

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

One of the most bitterly painful sufferings Christ had to endure at His crucifixion was the charge of megalomania leveled against Him. As He hung there on His cross naked, in agony, the people, especially the rulers of the nation, ridiculed Him for His delusions of grandeur as they put it. He's a fool! He thinks He is somebody! "He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am the Son of God" (Matt. 27:43). Wouldn't it have been great if the Father had spoken audibly from Heaven declaring, He IS the Son of God! But there was no such voice. The Sufferer was left alone with Heaven's silence and cried out in His agony, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

His experience has fitted Him to sympathize with everyone who has been forced to endure ridicule for his/her faith. Ridicule and the charge of delusions of grandeur are painful. "So you think you're right and everybody else is wrong!" Often in families when one person discovers new truth from the Bible, such as the Sabbath truth, he/she has to endure such ridicule.

In fact, ridicule has been one of Satan's sharpest arrows with which he assails God's people. Noah had to endure it as he built the ark on dry land. You can almost hear the people making jokes about him. His relatives probably thought Abraham was fanatical for leaving his fine house in Ur of the Chaldees to go out and live in a tent the rest of his days. And when he was old and had never owned even a foot of land ("not so much as to set his foot upon," Acts 7:5), hear them discussing the simple-minded "old man," and chuckling. Hear the Egyptian royal family talking about what a fool poor Moses was to give it all up to go with a bunch of slaves. And hear wealthy Nabal ridiculing young David as an outlaw. And Jeremiah--what pain he had to endure as the priests, rulers, and people laughed at him. Hear him pray, "Know that for Thy sake I have suffered rebuke" (15:15).

Among the most bitter of all experiences humans have suffered is Peter chafing under the ridicule of what must have been a flippant teenage girl, "You talk like one of Jesus' disciples!" And then her contemptuous laughter. To endure such ridicule in one's childhood and youth is particularly painful. But it is possible to endure, and Christ is near at hand to encourage and to strengthen. If you KNOW that God is with you, you CAN endure it! And Christ will truly appreciate your loyalty. Make Him happy, and you be happy too.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: The Most Depressed Person in the Bible

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Can you name who is the most depressed person in the Bible? Job sitting on his dung-heap scraping his sores with a potsherd? Or Jeremiah weeping while he writes his Lamentations, or surely Elijah in his cave at Horeb, praying the Lord to let him die? But no, there's Another--Jesus Himself hanging on His cross in the darkness crying out, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He is the Prince of depressed people.

If you are tempted by despair--everything has gone wrong, disappointments and misfortunes seem to shout in your ears that God has forgotten you, and to top it all off you are keenly aware of your own sinfulness--please remember Jesus. It would not be fair for you at last to "sit down with [Him] in [His] throne" (as He promises in Revelation 3:21) unless you have at least tasted a little what He went through. Some "fellowship with Him in His sufferings" (see Phil. 3:10) is a great blessing to you in the end.

If we remember Jesus, we can see how depression is not necessarily sin, even if some well-meaning people rub that in to make your sufferings worse (Job had his three "friends," remember).

Step #1 of course is to remember and believe God's New Covenant promises to Abraham (Gen. 12:2, 3) and see yourself as a "child of Abraham" (Gal. 3:29). But Step #2 is important: learning how to believe those promises. Perhaps (in fact, quite likely) you are unwittingly hindering your ability to believe. Many, when they get depressed, gorge on food--the worst thing they can do.

Step #3 is to fast for a while; yes, eat nothing. Give your stomach a rest; let your mind be cleared so you can hear the "still small voice" Elijah had to listen for (1 Kings 19:12).

Step #4 may be to do something that gets your blood pumping (remember the depressed man who wanted to die but didn't want to leave his family a mess to clean up after his suicide, so he got out and ran, thinking he could keel over in a convenient heart attack; and lo, his depression was gone!).

Step #5 can be a good night's sleep (without drugs if possible).

And best of all, #6, a good long quiet visit alone with that Prince of sufferers--all TV, cell phones, iPods turned off. And when you pray, step #7, choose even if you don't feel like it, to believe His promises.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: The Time Has Come for the "Latter Rain" Gift

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

"The day of the Lord" is a day when truth comes into its own and is recognized by honest people all over the world. It's the common possession of those who form a "body" of God's people; it unites them and motivates them to action. The result: a "church" which is related to Christ as a "woman" whom He loves and wants to wed in His "marriage of the Lamb."

Thoughtful followers of Jesus worldwide are coming together in a conviction: their understanding of Jesus Himself has been infantile, childish, immature, and it has blocked the way for the Holy Spirit to bless this dark world as the heavenly Father wants to do. His people have been content with the "former rain" gift of the Holy Spirit when the time has come instead for the "latter rain" gift. To delay the right thing at the right time is tragedy!

It's the same as a girl whom a true man loves telling him, "I'm not ready; let's wait until maybe we're 90 years old." It's being content not to do the right thing at the right time. No wonder a very wise person said one critical time that in a cosmic sense "the disappointment of Christ is beyond description."

That's the problem that surfaces in Revelation 19--a worldwide church, the object of His nuptial love, in that capacity has rebuffed Him. She says, "I like you as long as you're at arm's length; but stay there."

Could a man laugh and joke like nothing has happened if the one whom he loves treats him that way? Time means the world to him; "now" is it.

There's a book in the Bible that tells exactly how such a true man would act: Song of Solomon 5:2-8. Jesus has read it and believed it, for He quoted it in His last words to the "angel of the church of the Laodiceans" (Rev. 3:20; He quoted the Greek translation which has "at the door").

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Healing at the Sheep Pool--Illustration of the Cross

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When Jesus healed the paralytic who had been sick for 38 years at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem, He asked him no questions or to make no promises. In fact, we do not read that Jesus even preached to the sufferer first. But after He had healed the man, He found him again, in the temple. Then He said something very surprising: "'Now that you are well again, leave your sinful ways, or you may suffer something worse'" (John 5:14, NEB).

Why didn't Jesus tell this man to "leave his sinful ways" BEFORE HE healed him? That's what I would have done, if I had the power to heal. I would give the sufferer a good lecture and get him to sign on the dotted line that henceforth he would "leave his sinful ways" before I went to the trouble and expense of healing him. Why waste your resources on someone who doesn't make good use of the blessings you give him?

But, that was not Jesus' way of healing people. He gives the blessing FIRST, and then asks for a response of reformation and repentance. He heals the ten lepers when only one will come back and say thanks. And thus He treats the entire human race, sends His rain on the just and on the unjust, asks for no commitment first, just freely pours out His blessings. He does not make bargains with people (unless in the old covenant!), but in true new covenant manner gives His great gift of salvation, and then asks for a response of gratitude. We mustn't read John 3:16 backwards; the truth is that He took the initiative to "so love the world that He gave" His Son and all His blessings FIRST, then asks us to believe.

The healing at the Sheep Pool in John 5 illustrates what Jesus accomplished by His sacrifice on His cross. While we still followed our "sinful ways," He died for us, redeemed us, justified us in a legal sense, died our second death; put His arms around us, and gave us, not merely offered us, a "forever friendship." Nothing short of a total response of eternal gratitude can rightfully be labeled as "faith."

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Monday, January 18, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: A Painful Abscess in the Heart

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

This is a story I can vouch for, having spent some 24 years in East Africa. In the days when auto roads in Uganda were dirt and narrow, an angry, threatening elephant was blocking the main road from Kampala west to the Mountains of the Moon area. Finally, the Game Warden had to be called, who reluctantly had to shoot the beast. It was found that it had a painful abscess in a tooth. This is what caused its irrational rage.

Often we humans feel driven to anger, to impatience; yes, we do and say things that later we see are irrational. We create unpleasant crises. Like Paul in Romans 7, "I don't do what I would like to do, … what I do is what I don't want to do" (vss. 15, 16, GNB).

Could that unfortunate elephant teach us something? We have some painful abscess in the heart; we don't understand ourselves any better than the elephant understood himself. All we know is that something mysterious hurts deep inside. And then we fly off the handle, get impatient with each other, our spouse, or the kids, and get irrational and tear up the road.

The "abscess"? To tell the honest truth, it's bad heart feelings against God, often buried so deep we don't know them, like the elephant's pain. Things go wrong for us, we don't know why. We're frustrated, and that's when we go ballistic and can even make fools of ourselves. We're out of sorts with God.

He knows that, and He doesn't blame us any more than He blamed poor Job who had a monstrous "abscess"; but He can do something the Game Warden couldn't do. He can heal our "abscess." It's called, "Be ye reconciled to God." "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." The reason He can heal us is that He wrestled with the pain of the same "abscess"; on His cross He came VERY close to us when He cried out, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" But He did not sin! Neither do you and I have to sin. By His grace He saves us, through faith. LET your hurting heart be healed. Don't stop His blessed process.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Dial Daily Bread: Must We Still Today "Take Up Our Cross"?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

All through Bible history and through the history of Christianity, those who seek to follow Jesus have been opposed, ridiculed, persecuted. Always, the believer who would be faithful must "take up his cross" in order to follow the true Christ (Luke 9:23).

Elijah was opposed by the government of the Israelite nation; the opposition of the king and the queen was so terrible that he was denounced as Public Enemy #1.

The same persecution was seen in King Saul's bitter hatred of David, the youth whom the Lord had "anointed" to replace him as future king.

Then Jeremiah had to spend his entire lifetime enduring the persecution inflicted on him by the successive kings and leaders of Judah following the death of good king Josiah.

At first the official leadership of the nation of Israel was favorable to the message of John the Baptist, but later what they considered objective evidence made them conclude they were forced to criticize, then oppose, then reject, and finally crucify, the Man whom God had sent as their Messiah. It was the popular thing to do--shout "crucify Him!" (John 19:15).

Must we still today "take up [our] cross" in order to be faithful to Him? Yes!

But does that mean that life must be a dreary enduring of sadness and loneliness? No, the promise of Jesus has particular reference to life today. He said: "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20). As He walked with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:25), so He has pledged Himself to suffer and endure with His faithful disciples today.

And in every confrontation with Satanic falsehood, Jesus wins the victory.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: God's Textbook for Disaster Survivors

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are no words to describe what's happening in Haiti: tens of thousands of people swept into eternity without a moment's warning. And now the surviving multitudes are not only bereaving, but going about utterly homeless.

Whether they believe in Vodou, or no god, or in the God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Creator/Redeemer, the question haunts everybody: "Why does God [whoever He is] permit such horror?"

The Bible is not helpless in times of disaster such as this. The dead are in God's care; it's the horror now of the survivors that is our heart burden. This disaster is an extenuation of the cataclysm that was Noah's Flood. It was the Flood that originated the earthquakes that our earth suffers. Whatever sinful guilt anyone can say these tragic people had acquired, we must not try to say; we all share it as the human race corporately. The Lamentations of Jeremiah are God's textbook for disaster survivors. The people of Jerusalem had suffered the most horrible defeat and destruction; they lost everything. After lamenting their utter tragedy, the prophet wrote: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ... Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord" (3:22, 40).

The Flood was a curse to the whole earth from which it has never completely recovered. The earth was mortally wounded; it needs to be completely re-created. That must come when the Lord Jesus returns. The sooner, the better!

That's why those who ponder the teachings of the Bible long for the promised second coming of "the Savior of the world." Whatever days of peace and pleasure are granted to us, let us thank God for them, realizing even our next breath is a gift of His much more abounding grace. Let us give as best we can to send relief to those who suffer; then let us look at everything we have in a new light: nothing we have liked to call "ours" is ours; it is lent us in trust to use for the good of others.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: God's "Verdict of Acquittal"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What the Bible teaches about "justification" is clear as sunlight, but "the little horn" of Daniel's prophecies has sought to confuse this truth. It had been God's intention that "the faith of Jesus" should lighten the earth with glory. But the great "falling away" (apostasy) that Paul predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2 (based on Daniel!) was the work of "the man of sin" (vss. 3-7). He has stirred up debate and confusion about "justification." These have darkened this glorious truth for many sincere people. (Maybe you, too!)

The New English Bible aptly defines that big word "justification" as simply God's "verdict of acquittal" (Rom. 5:16). Our enemy, Satan, condemns us in God's law court; he himself is shut out of heaven, and charges that we should be, too. But God steps in and vindicates, "acquits" us, as though we had never sinned. Now He can send His rain and sunshine on all alike as though we were innocent. He gives "all men" this "free gift ... unto justification of life" (vs. 18, KJV; Matt. 5:45). But how can the Father pronounce this "acquittal" that Satan hates? Is it fair? Muslims say, "No!" But what's the Bible answer?

The Son of God has become "the second Adam," the new corporate Head of our human race, has taken all our guilt in upon Himself ("the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all," Isa. 53:6), accepted our condemnation, died our second death both "for us" and "as us," and thus has "acquitted" us. We are "justified by His blood," says Paul (Rom. 5:9), which was shed at the cross of Jesus. Six times Paul says the "acquittal" is a "gift" given to "all men." "Many" reject the "gift," throw it away, "sell the birthright." But if you clasp it to your heart, cherish it, keep it, appreciate it, that is, "believe"--you cannot be lost.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Too Much New Covenant in Your Thinking?

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 for evermore” (16:11). Yes, even in sharing His cross.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: What Is This Thing Called Justification?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Many ask: "What is this thing called justification? It's a big word; it's over my head; help me!" The Bible is God's word; He wants us to understand; He puts the feeding trough down low so lambs can eat. Surely He will respond to our plea.

(1) The idea is simply making something crooked straight; something bad, good; something wrong, right. So, it ends up making something unjust, just--and there's the root of the word.

(2) One doesn't need the Bible to tell him that something has made the world to be all those things--"crooked," "bad," "wrong," "unjust." Justification = making them all right again.

(3) What has done all this evil is SIN. Justification is therefore the opposite of sin. It reverses the evil that sin has caused, it un-does what sin has done, it untangles the knot that sin has tied in the universe of God, and especially, on this planet.

(4) Sin has caused an alienated sense of separation from God. It has left us strangers in the universe, our very home. The alienation actually causes "enmity" against God. Justification has bridged the chasm that has separated us from "home," which is the throne of God. This bridging of the chasm is "at-one-ment," a heart-reconciliation with the One whom we have thought was our enemy. He turns out to have been our Friend all along. The root of the problem has been eradicated: justification has made us friends with God again, like we used to be at Creation.

(5) This enmity against God was "condemnation." Justification became a lifting of the condemnation, or a "verdict of acquittal" (Rom. 5:15-18, NEB).

(6) Justification is what One has done whom the Bible calls "the Savior of the world" (John 4:42). He untied the knot, reversed the evil, brought good in place of the bad, reconciled enemies into being friends with God, made everything crooked straight, and made everything wrong to become right. This was infinitely more wonderful than if He had wiped us out in one fell swoop and started from scratch creating everything new again. Changing alienated hearts, winning enemies to be friends--this was the Miracle of the ages. It required a cross on which the Creator gave up His very life in a total sacrifice known in the Bible as "the second death"--an embracing of hell itself in love for us (Heb. 2:9; Isa. 53:12).

(7) This act which He performed did it for all humanity; legally, He saved His lost world, yes, redeemed His threatened universe. That is justification. But what you didn't ask is what's important: "what is justification by faith?" That's when our sinful, alienated heart appreciates the justification He accomplished for us; and that is a totally changed heart and life. You're now a new you.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.

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

Monday, January 11, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Be a Part of Christ's Solution

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A haze of confusion perplexed the minds of the Jews in the days of Christ. Their man-made ideas were contradictory and created only spiritual discouragement in the minds of the common people. Jesus cleared it away.

Today there are also man-made ideas which create confusion in the minds of sincere people. They wonder if the time will ever come when God's people can be united in faith and can speak to the world with one voice. Jesus made a promise that's encouraging: "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted" (Matt. 15:13). All false ideas will be "uprooted." Oh what a joy that will be--when all of the ministers, teachers, leaders, and theologians see the truth alike in sunlit clarity!

If you are perplexed today as to what you can believe out of all the conflicting confusion, take heart. Jesus made another promise that is 100% true (sincere Jews were perplexed as to whether this upstart young Rabbi from Galilee was right, or whether the venerable elders from the headquarters offices were right): "If anyone wants to do His will [the Father's], he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:17). If the common people would follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, saying a willing "amen" to each new ray of light flashed upon their pathway, their thinking would become clear. And there you have the Light flashing on your pathway today!

Then another wonderful promise of Jesus will be fulfilled: "I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ... And other sheep I have which are not of this fold [untold numbers still in "Babylon"]; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:14, 16). No one will get the bighead on top of everyone else. It'll be a little heaven on earth in which God's people can go to heaven.

Come, today; and be a part of Christ's solution, not a part of His problem. Get in full unity with His truth, and you'll be one with Him.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

Dial Daily Bread: The Message of the Cross

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Everybody knows the little song, "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know." But does the Father also love us? And did He love us before Jesus died for us? YES! "God [the Father] so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . ..." (John 3:16). If He so loved us BEFORE Jesus died for us, then was He reconciled to us BEFORE Jesus died? YES! Did the sacrifice of Jesus reconcile the heart of the Father to us? No, for He was already in a state of being reconciled to us, not that any change in Him was at any time necessary. This reconciliation of the Father to us was not accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus. The correct word to say is that the sacrifice of Jesus demonstrated the fact of His already being reconciled to us (Rom. 5:6-11, 15-21).

So let us delete the word "accomplished" by the cross and substitute the right word, which is "demonstrated" there.

But what does this actually mean to us? And what does it mean to the souls for whom we pray and to whom we want to witness? It means that the Father has no chip on His shoulder against anyone personally; He loves "all men," even "the world," sinful as it is. It follows therefore that God treats every person as though he/she were righteous, even though he/she is not. God loves the person, but He still hates the sin; but the sinner (that's everybody) must learn to believe that the Father loves him just as much as the Son loves him, and the Father loves him as much as He loved His Son (!!). But the Father loves the sinner so much that He wants to separate him from the sin--which otherwise will actually kill him/her.

But the problem is that the sinner (that's everybody) loves the sin; how can we be separated from that which we have been born and bred to love? The answer: at the cross--where the Son of God built that bridge across the dark chasm of our alienation from God. He also suffered alienation from His Father when He cried out on the cross, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46). No sinner ever felt such horror of separation from God as did Jesus in that hour! He was "made to be sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21). Now the message of the cross says to us, "You be reconciled to God!" (5:20). The Father has proven His reconciliation to us; now let the truth melt our stony hearts.

Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Friday, January 08, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Who Started the War in Heaven?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We can understand how war breaks out in this dark, sinful world; but how could there be "war in heaven"? (Rev. 12:7) Heaven is a perfect place! Who started it?

The Bible says clearly that sin originated with Lucifer, the highest of the angels (Eze. 28:12-15; Isa. 14:12-14). He sought to spread rebellion. And many angels joined him ("the third part," Rev 12:4). But who started the conflict that resulted in "the great dragon, ... the Devil, and Satan [being] ... cast out" (vs. 9)?

A very wise writer says that Lucifer's new idea of "the ... exaltation of self, contrary to the Creator's plan, awakened forebodings of evil in minds to whom God's glory was supreme." This quiet, clever, secret "exaltation of self" would have gone on and on had it not been that some "minds" loyal to God were "awakened" to oppose it. They were the ones who started the "war in heaven"! They were not content to let this underhanded work proceed unopposed.

Our text seems clear: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon [that is, took the initiative]; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven" (12:7, 8). There is no suggestion that literal swords or guns were used. Two of three "parts" of the angels thought through the clever lies of Lucifer and his supporting angels, and rejected them. Today the Holy Spirit still takes the initiative in opposing evil. Thank God! And we should cooperate with Him and stop opposing His initiatives.

Satan was "cast out into the earth" because our first parents welcomed him (Genesis 3). Now the cosmic controversy continues here until "our brethren ... overcome him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (two things!), and "love not their lives unto the death" (vss. 9-12). When among them that original "exaltation of self" is renounced, the final victory will come. "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens." Why? Be "glad and rejoice, … for the marriage of the Lamb is come" (19:6, 7). AT LAST!

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

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Can We Ever Come Into Unity?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In the aftermath of the 2000 U. S. presidential election, the final choice of Bush or Gore seemed almost exactly 50/50 in the law courts. Even the U.S. Supreme Court was perplexed. There is also a nearly 50/50 division in a great world church regarding the heart of the gospel of Christ: what did He accomplish by His sacrifice on His cross? Group A believe that He actually became "the Saviour of the world," that He did something for every human being, that He gave the gift of salvation to "every man," died every man's second death, adopted the human race in Himself, became the new Head of the human race, became the second or "last Adam" and in so doing He reversed the legal "condemnation" that the first Adam brought upon the human race.

Group A believe that God has totally taken the initiative in man's salvation, and that those who at last will be lost have totally taken the initiative in their damnation by rejecting, despising, throwing away the salvation that Christ as Second Adam has given them.

Group B say No, that's dangerous doctrine. Christ has not GIVEN salvation to "every man," He has not reversed the legal condemnation Adam brought upon "all men;" He has not given the gift of a legal justification to "all men;" He has only OFFERED that blessing contingent on the sinner doing something first. In other words, "all men" have not been GIVEN the GIFT of salvation; "all men" have not been adopted into the "family of God." Group B are afraid that Group A are lowering the standard for entrance into heaven, opening the gates of the New Jerusalem too wide, giving too much encouragement to sinners to think Christ has accomplished more than He really has accomplished. They feel that if we tell sinners that Christ has actually reversed the legal condemnation that Adam brought upon them, then they will want to go on sinning.

But Group A insist that the only way sinners can truly stop sinning is by a heart-appreciation of what Christ actually accomplished for the world, by sensing what it cost Him to save us when He died the second death of "every man" (Heb. 2:9). Can Groups A and B ever come into unity? Yes, the Holy Spirit can heal Christ's "body" with healthful oneness, and He will do so. Be patient. Let Him lead!

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: One GREAT Promise Not Yet Fulfilled

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

All the wonderful promises that Jesus made before His death must and will be fulfilled. But there is one GREAT promise that has not yet been fulfilled, and many Christians think it never will be. They are wrong! He will not fail.

That great promise is in John 16:13: "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth." We usually think of the Holy Spirit as giving us happy feelings or of giving great power in witnessing and producing baptisms; we think that understanding "all truth" is of lesser importance. But over 200 times the Bible speaks of the importance of truth. In ordinary life, law courts, juries, judges, seek constantly to know the truth. Jesus says that it is so important that "the truth shall make you free" (8:32).

In His same promise that the Holy Spirit will guide us "into all truth" Jesus promised, "He will show you things to come." The wording is very similar to the opening of the Book of Revelation, "the revelation ... of things which must shortly come to pass" (1:1). The Book of Revelation was the fulfillment of Jesus' promise! And yet Christian people go in all different directions in understanding what Revelation is saying!

Likewise, there is confusion in understanding Daniel's prophecies; yet God commanded the angel, "Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision," and later the angel said to him, "I will show thee the truth" (8:16; 11:2). Paul spoke of his message as "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5). There is as much division in understanding that as there is in understanding Daniel and the Revelation!

What can bring about a unity and clarity of understanding these important truths? Surely when that great fourth angel of Revelation 18:1-4 begins to "lighten the earth with glory," the message that calls every sincere person "out of Babylon" will be a message of pure, unadulterated truth. We pray daily for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. An excellent place to begin finding the answer to that prayer is in honest, sincere, and humble listening to the Bible to permit it to tell us what the truth is in all these controverted areas. Jesus did not promise, "The Holy Spirit will TRY to lead you into all truth," or "He wishes He could lead you into all truth." No, He said He WILL do so. As surely as I write and you read this, so surely is the Holy Spirit right now "leading" us into the truth that will bind us together in loving harmony of belief. Let's listen to Him!

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Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: The "Secret of the Cross"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How can we "save" our children and youth "from this perverse generation" (Acts 2:40)? The floodgates of moral filth are open; evil cascades upon them.

One Bible chapter suggests two apparently opposite remedies: "Knowing ... the terror [KJV] of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:10, 11). The idea seems to be--more fire-and-brimstone preaching/teaching. Does it work? Well, it seems to get them into the baptismal pool, but does "sanctified terrorism" hold these children and youth when temptation shall come in like a flood (Isa. 28:19)? They face terrific peer pressure plus the drives of their own sensual nature; will Jonathan Edwards' preaching hold them when the dams burst?

The same chapter plugs an alternative motivation: "The love [agape] of Christ constraineth us ..." or motivates us, this to total consecration to the One who died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). In fact, Paul devotes much more time to developing this motivation than to his brief mention of "terror" (KJV). He goes so far as to present a Savior who "was made to be sin for us," in other words, who was forced to be immersed in all the moral filth of the entire human race, who suffered the most awful peer pressure and had to resist the most powerful inner urges as He "resisted unto blood, striving against sin"--all "without sin" (see vss. 16-6:1; Heb. 4:15; 12:4). Read it: it's all "grace much more abounding." Don't despise it!

When we read that it's "the terror of the Lord [that] persuades" us, do we correctly see what Paul said? The word translated "terror" in the KJV is phobos in the Greek; it's not a New Testament word for raw, mind-numbing, Holocaust terror. The honest truth is that God does not want to terrorize children and youth. He is too wise; He knows that terror cauterizes, hardens hearts. That word means a mingled awe and reverence that solemnizes the heart of a child and youth. A wise author once said, "Share with your children the secret of the cross." Will it work? Nothing else will!

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Justification by Faith: Luther's and Calvin's Understanding

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We were studying the message of Christ's righteousness with particular emphasis on the relationship between justification by faith and the Day of Atonement. One of the questions discussed was the difference between Martin Luther's and John Calvin's understanding of justification by faith, and that Revelation 18:1-4 truth that will "lighten the earth with glory" just before the return of Jesus--or is there no difference? Did the 16th century Reformers grasp ALL of the truth of the gospel? Is salvation (full and complete) "by grace ... through faith" (Eph. 2:8), or is it partly through works?

Paul tells us that there will be two classes of saints when Jesus returns: those who are resurrected in the "first resurrection" (Rev. 20:5 and 1 Thess. 4:16, 17) and those who will be "alive and remain [and] shall be caught up together with [the resurrected saints] to meet the Lord in the air." This second group will be "translated" as Enoch and Elijah were (Heb. 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11). Well, the question is this: will those who at last are translated be people who are smarter and have done more works? Or will they be people whose faith has grown because their understanding of the gospel has grown?

There were thoughtful people in the group who agreed that they see the Bible teaches that in the last days God's people will grow up "unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ... henceforth ... be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, ... but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things" (Eph. 4:13-15). They will believe all the truth that the Reformers taught 400+ years ago, but they will also believe every further revelation of light that the Holy Spirit sends. God will have a people at last who "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," who are "without fault before the throne of God," who "come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rev. 14:4, 5; 1 Cor. 1:7).

It was agreed that "the gospel is the power of God unto salvation," that "faith WORKS by love," and that faith is dependent on the revelation of the love of Christ at the cross. Therefore it was agreed that the "light [which] lightens the earth with glory" and makes possible every honest heart responding to the call from heaven, "Come out of [Babylon], My people," will be a clearer revelation of the cross of Jesus Christ. What did He accomplish by His sacrifice? That love [agape] "constrains us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then all died, and He died for all, that they which live may not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). Those in the group sensed a greater "hunger and thirst for righteousness"; silly TV and sports entertainment lose their charm in comparison.

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

Monday, January 04, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: "Of One Accord"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Some day yet to come those who choose to follow Jesus will be "of one accord" as were His disciples at Pentecost--oh! may that day come soon! (cf. Acts 2:1).

Then, united in their understanding of the "everlasting gospel" (Rev. 14:6, 7) they will be privileged to take up the cross on which self is crucified with Christ and will proclaim the message so clearly that the earth will be "lightened" with its glory (18:1-4).

Is there something about the message that even now we may be of "one accord" in understanding? Let's try:

(1) "God so loved the world" (John 3:16). Not just the good people.

(2) "He gave His only begotten Son." Not just lent Him.

(3) "That whoever believes in Him should not perish." There's something about the "believes" that is vital; that may be where the dis-accord at present is hindering the whole-hearted "accord." Is it possible that the believing is something of the heart and not just a mental affirmation like believing 2 plus 2 = 4? Romans 10:10 seems to suggest that: "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness."

(4) If so, then could it be that to believe is to "comprehend" something? "The width and length and depth and height--to know the love [agape] of Christ which passes knowledge" (Eph. 3:18, 19)? The text dares to suggest that when God's people do "comprehend" this passes-knowledge-truth they will be ready to welcome Jesus at His second advent. (Perhaps our "Christian" dis-accord is due to not "comprehending"!)

(5) Genuine believing resolves the centuries-long conflict re faith and works: "Faith [is something] working through love" (Gal. 5:6; KJV--"faith worketh by love"). That must mean that when someone does believe, he is reconciled to God because he "receive[s] the reconciliation" (Rom. 5:11). The atonement was made long ago at Christ's cross; but it must be "received" by personal faith. In other words, to make it simple, the true idea is not "faith and works" but "faith which works." One can't be reconciled to God and not at the same time be reconciled to His holy law; therefore it must follow that a true experience of "believing" is what the Bible means by justification by faith (Rom. 5:1) which makes the believer become "obedient to all the commandments of God" (cf. Rev. 12:17; 14:12). Even when "Babylon" will persecute him for his obedience (14:8-10).

(6) If that's true, then it must follow that what we all need is to "see" something (Eph. 3:8, 9): what "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" means (1 Cor. 2:1, 2).

(7) "Seeing" that humbles proud human hearts; now what was "gain" to me [self] "I count but loss for Christ" (Phil. 3:7, 8). It's impossible for a believer to do nothing: "the love [agape] of Christ constraineth us ... not henceforth [to] live" for self but to be devoted to the One who died our "second death" for us (2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Rev. 2:11; 20:14).

This is just a tiny little inquiry into the gospel; can anybody say "amen" thus far?

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: The Bible and New Year's Resolutions

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Does the Bible say anything about New Year's Resolutions? Well, ... yes. Israel had just come out of Egypt, when the Lord had said to them (Passover time), "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you" (Ex. 12:2). Shortly afterwards, they made a New Year's Resolution at Mt. Sinai. In fact, it was something like saying it under solemn oath, for they were making this resolution to God: "All that the Lord hath spoken, WE WILL DO" (19:8). It was like Peter's resolution, while not New Year's, was the same time of year: "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended" (Matt. 26:33).

In both cases, those who made this New Year's resolution failed to keep it. Israel got to worshipping a golden calf in a mere matter of days, and in Peter's case, he was denying his Lord and Saviour in a matter of hours.

Both of those "resolutions" were "old covenant" in principle. And the dear Lord doesn't want us to get ourselves into old covenant resolutions, for they "gender to bondage," says Galatians 4:24, that is, they lead us into spiritual slavery. The little book Steps to Christ tells why: "You desire to give yourself to Him [the Lord], but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you" (p. 47). Stop right there. Here's the problem! The memory of your frequent failures to keep your promises makes you feel that you are no good and "that God cannot accept you" or respect you. And that is horrible slavery.

A far better way to face the new year is under the "new covenant." Instead of promising God you will do better, thank Him that He has promised to save you, that Christ has given Himself for you already and bought you with His blood, and that you are precious in His sight. The new covenant is Good News, the "old" is bad.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Sunday, January 03, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: The Gospel: A "Self-propelled Vehicle"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Before Robert Fulton's invention of the steamboat in 1803 and Stephenson's railway engine in 1825, vehicles had to be pulled by horses, mules, oxen, or donkeys--all of which needed to be whipped, kicked, or prodded into action, or shouted at. The world of that day marveled when it came time to see a self-propelled vehicle!

Is the gospel a self-propelled vehicle? Or does its proclamation and propagation depend on church members (and pastors!) constantly being prodded by church leaders into action? "Lay Activities" leaders in churches can testify: to get much done it takes constant "promotion" (the polite word for prodding, kicking, or whipping reluctant "livestock" into action). The zealous "promoter" gets some publicity for his enthusiasm, until finally "evangelism fatigue" sets in. Then a new leader must be found, and new programs, methods, systems, must be devised.

The New Testament letters of the apostles reveal a strange lack of such works "promotion." They chronicle amazing activity, but seldom if ever were believers prodded or whipped into action. Their zealous activity was simply assumed, it was natural. Their gospel was a "self-propelled vehicle." Why?

Their message had the power built-in. Nobody needed to be whipped into action. The motivating force was greater than that of a steam engine, for the power was implicit in the News about the sacrifice of the Son of God. He burst upon everyone's consciousness as "the Lamb of God," a blood-sacrifice offered by God. Examples: "I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." "He is the propitiation ... for the sins of the whole world," etc. The power was not magic, certainly not mysteriously impossible for our day. The internal-combustion "engine" was the agape of Christ which "constrained" them (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).

The Book of Revelation predicts that again such a self-propelling gospel will "lighten the earth with glory" (Rev. 18:1-4). And again the central Character of interest will be "the Lamb of God"--mentioned 26 times in that Book alone. Does anybody "hunger and thirst" to understand the News more clearly?

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorro w.
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Starlight Converse

Youth they were, abiding in the fields,
Camporee-like, far from the tense city,
Ears young enough to hear angels sing,
Hearts enough like ours to be "sore afraid."

Youth they were, for only youth would say,
"Let's go!"

And didn't they have something to go for!

Was it because they had paused to wonder,
To yearn wistfully for the Unknown,
To savor a heart-longing for God's gift?

Lord, so let us wait beneath our starlit sky,
Abiding with "shepherds," humble folk,
Hearts athrill with a divine expectation,
Ears attuned to infinite Melody.

O Lord!

Is a heavenly Gift near?
Is the Latter Rain, like the Birth at Bethlehem
Something only "youth" will see?

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

Friday, January 01, 2010

Dial Daily Bread: Let's Listen to the Angels (Luke 2:9-14)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The beautiful song says, "O pause beside the weary road / And hear the angels sing." Let's listen to what they said to the shepherds at Bethlehem (Luke 2:9-14):

(1) "Fear not." But you say, "I DO fear, and I can't help it!" "Fear hath torment" (1 John 4:18). You can choose to believe and to fear not! Listen on for the reasons: (2) "I bring you good tidings." God NEVER brings you Bad News. The bad news that King Saul heard the night he died was not from the Lord, but from Satan. Even if you're on your deathbed, the Lord has only "good tidings" for you! (3) "Of great joy." Not ordinary joy. The "good tidings" is objective; you can not make good news or "do" it, but if you believe the objective good tidings, then the joy becomes subjective--a part of your experience. (4) "Which shall be to all people." Sinners?? "All people" are! Yes, the good tidings are for you, unworthy as you feel yourself to be. The gospel is universal. Christ died the second death "for every man" (Heb. 2:9). "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6). (5) "Unto you is born this day ..." Christ is born "unto YOU," as surely as when a mother delivers a child, the nurse says, "Unto you is born" this child. The child belongs to the mother. Jesus belongs to you. (6) "In the city of David …" There must come that name of the sinful king; he must be remembered, not for his sin, but for his repentance. (7) "A Saviour." Not a possible, maybe, perhaps, offer of a Saviour if, if, if ... but in fact "the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42), "the Saviour of all men" (1 Tim. 4:10). Some Christian people argue against the angel's message, insisting that He is not "the Saviour of all men," He merely would like to be, if, if, if, ... Are you a sinner? Then the truth is, He is now (present tense) YOUR Saviour. (8) "Which is Christ the Lord." Eternal Son of God, once crucified, soon to be the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

Dial Daily Bread: Hearts in Tune with Heaven

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When Heaven was looking for someone who was prepared to welcome the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, no one among the priests or rulers seemed the least bit interested. So far as they were concerned, if the Messiah should never come, they were content so long as their "economy" was good and Emperor Caesar Augustus kept the peace. When Joseph and Mary were in the manger in Bethlehem and Jesus was born, the angel was about to go back to Heaven with the shameful news that no human being on earth cared. But that would have been tragic! It is true that human beings are sinful and selfish and alienated from God, but there have always been some whose hearts were in tune with Heaven. (It's that way today, also.)

Then the angel found the poor shepherds camping out in the fields by night, talking together under the starlight about God's promises to send the Messiah and praying, "Lord, send Him! We need Him!" The angel was so happy! He could not contain his pent-up joy but told them that the Saviour of the world was born in Bethlehem and they should go and see him for themselves. They would be welcome! So they said to each other, "Lets go! We must see this great sight!" and they did not walk, they ran to the town of Bethlehem, and found Jesus, the world's Saviour, lying in a donkey's feed-box.

Does anyone today care whether Jesus comes soon, or not for a long time to come so long as we have a good "economy" and peace and fun? Is anyone anywhere fasting and praying about it? I don't mean old people; I mean are there young people who are concerned for the latter rain, the loud cry, and the coming of Jesus again?

The Bible evidence is quite clear, the shepherds camping in the fields were young: (1) they were "camping," as only youth could or would do; and (2) when they had heard what the angels said, they didn't say to each other, "Well (yawn!), let's wait a few days and maybe next week we'll stroll over to town and see about this." No way! Luke 2 says they said, "Let's go!" as only youth would say it, and they hurried to town.

The answer to my question is "Yes!" there are young people today who are concerned seriously, and they are as much concerned about Jesus' second coming as the shepherds were about His first coming. The Bible promise is that "unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb. 9:28). The Greek says "eager" for Him to come; yes, there are some. Are you among them?

Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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