Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Jesus says things that are so backward from conventional wisdom! In Matthew 5:6 He says that the really happy people are those who are always starving for hunger and famished for a drink of water, whereas "we" in this world are always ducking in to a McDonalds or a Taco Bell for a snack, or better still, to a gourmet restaurant. And if we're home, then the fridge door is always being opened. It's good to be HUNGRY??!! Is Jesus kidding?
No, He makes sense. In a purely physical sense what He says is true, for a large proportion of Americans are overweight, and it might do them good health-wise to be fairly hungry all the time. But of course His primary meaning has to do with a soul hunger "for righteousness" (which can take care of the physical problem also).
If you drag yourself to Sabbath School and church, sit through a boring class, and endure a meaningless sermon and can't wait until sundown so you can go shopping at the mall or watch TV, Jesus says you simply are not a "happy" person (the word "blessed" means "happy"). You are alienated from where life and happiness exist. If you can keep on living Sabbath after Sabbath for months and years and feel no inner urge to LEARN what Daniel and Revelation mean, or what is justification by faith, or what really did happen on Christ's cross, or what He's doing in cleansing His sanctuary, you may FEEL ever so "rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing," when in reality you are the most "wretched" and "naked" of all God's people in the last two millennia, your new car and plush house notwithstanding (see Rev. 3:14-21).
You may think many of your prayers go unanswered (and maybe they do if you ask for the wrong things), but here's one that God will delight in answering: ask Him to teach you how to feel the sharp pangs of being "hungry and thirsty for righteousness" (there's only one kind--by faith). Beg Him to give you a famished feeling deep inside that will drive you to learn truth that's really important and soul-satisfying--a never-ending "hunger and thirst." Yes, and you'll then be truly "blessed" or "happy." It'll be better than winning the Lottery.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 23, 2000.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
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.
Jesus says things that are so backward from conventional wisdom! In Matthew 5:6 He says that the really happy people are those who are always starving for hunger and famished for a drink of water, whereas "we" in this world are always ducking in to a McDonalds or a Taco Bell for a snack, or better still, to a gourmet restaurant. And if we're home, then the fridge door is always being opened. It's good to be HUNGRY??!! Is Jesus kidding?
No, He makes sense. In a purely physical sense what He says is true, for a large proportion of Americans are overweight, and it might do them good health-wise to be fairly hungry all the time. But of course His primary meaning has to do with a soul hunger "for righteousness" (which can take care of the physical problem also).
If you drag yourself to Sabbath School and church, sit through a boring class, and endure a meaningless sermon and can't wait until sundown so you can go shopping at the mall or watch TV, Jesus says you simply are not a "happy" person (the word "blessed" means "happy"). You are alienated from where life and happiness exist. If you can keep on living Sabbath after Sabbath for months and years and feel no inner urge to LEARN what Daniel and Revelation mean, or what is justification by faith, or what really did happen on Christ's cross, or what He's doing in cleansing His sanctuary, you may FEEL ever so "rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing," when in reality you are the most "wretched" and "naked" of all God's people in the last two millennia, your new car and plush house notwithstanding (see Rev. 3:14-21).
You may think many of your prayers go unanswered (and maybe they do if you ask for the wrong things), but here's one that God will delight in answering: ask Him to teach you how to feel the sharp pangs of being "hungry and thirsty for righteousness" (there's only one kind--by faith). Beg Him to give you a famished feeling deep inside that will drive you to learn truth that's really important and soul-satisfying--a never-ending "hunger and thirst." Yes, and you'll then be truly "blessed" or "happy." It'll be better than winning the Lottery.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 23, 2000.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
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.
