Daily Bread: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

A New Motivation That Never Ends

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever noticed that the Bible spends more time talking about what God has done for the world, than telling what we must do for Him?

For example, there's John 3:16: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Big, big gift!

But it doesn't go on giving a list of things we must now do for Him. It simply says, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish"--himself (the verb form admits the idea of we sinners perishing--ourselves, that is, going on in a process which is in one sense mass suicide, self-perishing).

After all that tremendous giving on His part, God simply asks us to appreciate what He has done, to let our hearts "behold" the grand dimensions of the love He has given us (cf. Eph. 3:18). "Look!" "Ponder." "Measure." "Consider." "Stop and think so you can appreciate to the point of broken-heartedness." All the good works possible, follow.

Then Psalm 51 comes into the picture; instead of being like the Pharisee who thanks God that he isn't as bad as "this publican," instead of thanking Him that you haven't done as badly as King David--committed adultery and murder, etc.; instead of that pride, you receive from the Holy Spirit the gift of conviction of sin, corporate sin; you realize that the sin of someone else would be your sin but for the grace of Christ. You realize at last that you are no better than King David at heart; you have no righteousness of your own.

If Jesus, the divine Son of God could be "made to be sin for us who knew no sin" (that is, as He hung on His cross, He bore the corporate guilt of all the sin of the whole world), then surely we can bear the corporate guilt of the sin of King David: we may now have a closer link with Jesus who bore the corporate guilt of us all.

And, dear friend: a closer link with Jesus means a closer link with eternal life. Don't despise the gift of corporate repentance. Esau did, and he "sold" his precious "birthright."

When the love (agape) of Christ can "constrain" us (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14, 15), then there is no end to the works of righteousness that love will constrain us to do for the Lord. But that is not motivated by a desire for reward in heaven nor is it motivated by a fear of hell: God Himself is agape, and "agape casts out fear" (1 John 4:8, 18). It's a new motivation that never ends.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 10, 2008.

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Friday, April 27, 2012

A Choice David Himself Had to Make

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The story of Saul, the first king of Israel, next to that of Judas Iscariot, is the saddest in the Bible. The problem was initially the fault of the people. They had demanded of God that He give them a king like all the nations around them. God selected the best man available in the nation. The prophet Samuel anointed him, and all went well for a time. He proved to be politically and militarily a success.

When the Lord directed him to take a step that would establish Israel forever a secure nation, that is, to annihilate the Amalekites, King Saul disobeyed, and lied. Patiently, the Lord tried to help him, but he became stubbornly rebellious. Then the Lord did the most terrible thing He can do to any man or woman--backed off and left Saul to himself. Sent no lightning bolt from heaven to destroy him, just turned His back and walked away.

But God could not forsake Israel. They needed a king whom the Lord could be with, so He instructed Samuel to anoint young David.

Saul yielded his soul to become insanely jealous, and "the anointed of the Lord" persecuted young David. But he still respected Saul as such. A few people believed in David and supported him; but the youth bore a heavy burden: Why was "the anointed of the Lord" against him? Could it be that the Lord also was against him? Had he misinterpreted Samuel's very humble "anointing"? Could he trust the "Spirit of prophecy" of his day when absolutely everything was stacked against him?

David's nadir came at Ziklag in a disaster that seemed to say he was totally forsaken of the Lord. His own few men talked of stoning him (see 1 Samuel 30). The Lord had to let David suffer being apparently forsaken, else he would never have been able to write Psalm 22! The Lord did appear to leave him; but in his anguish, David did the right thing--which you and I must do: "David encouraged himself in the Lord" (1 Sam. 30:6).

In principle, it's what the future "Lamb's wife" will do when she "makes herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb." It's something the Lamb cannot do for her, and this was something the Lord could not do for David at Ziklag. There was a choice David himself had to make,

something to do himself--believe!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 5, 2006.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Magnificent, Life-changing Promise

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When we come to our day's end and we're about to get in bed, we kneel to pray.

On our knees, we are quiet, subdued, in the presence of "our heavenly Father.” We think back: have I honored my Savior today? Have I done and said what He would have done and said in my place?

Maybe when we gave something to help someone today, now we wish we had been more generous. When we said "Good morning” to someone, now we wish we had paused just a moment to look that person in the eye and truly pray for him a GOOD morning, the beginning of an eternity of "goodness” which David said "shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6); now we wish we had shared that "goodness” more liberally.

When we had contact today with someone discouraged, defeated, enmeshed in Old Covenant despair, we wish now that we had known how to inject into our little conversation some saving, some vital truth of the New Covenant gospel, that would have "made [him] free” (John 8:32). Yes, we wish that we had had that "truth” at our mental fingertips as Jesus always had something to say that was life giving!

Well, He made a magnificent, tremendous, life-changing promise at the last Feast of Tabernacles He attended: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his inmost heart will flow rivers of living water” (cf. John 7:37, 38).

When we lay our head on our pillow and think just a moment before drifting off in sleep, we may not be "alive” enough to "hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6). (The only truly happy people in the world are they!) But we do sense a yearning for some "bread” for our own starved souls; we can't help but pray another little prayer before going to sleep, "Father, forgive me for wasting some time this precious day in watching useless TV or reading that vain novel. Please give me grace to be so hungry for the bread of life that nothing else can satisfy me!”

The Lord has solemnly promised, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). Thank Him a thousand times for that promise. Now believe it and trust in Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 29, 2007.

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Monday, April 23, 2012

Is Character Perfection Possible?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Is it possible that sinners (like all of us are born to be!) can overcome sin and become truly Christlike in character? Can "the righteousness of the law" (perfect obedience, perfect loyalty) ever be achieved in this life? The Bible quite clearly says: "all have sinned, and continue [present tense] to come short" (Rom. 3:23). Our very nature is sinful; and even "saints" can't help showing that they are sinners. Nobody is perfect. So, is perfection of character a possible dream?

The Bible insists on a Good News answer--YES! God sent His beloved Son into the world on the special mission to "save His people FROM their sins," not IN them (Matt. 1:21). Romans 8:3, 4 says that He was "sent ... to condemn sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us." The word "righteousness" used there means the righteous character of those who "walk after the Spirit." (It's dikaiomata, the imparted righteousness of saints (Rev. 19:8), whereas dikaiosune always is the imputed righteousness of Christ.)

Hebrews 13:21 says that the Savior will "make you perfect in every good work to do His will." And Revelation 14:1-5 describes a people at the close of time who "are without fault before the throne of God," who "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." Not part way, but totally. They will refuse "the mark of the beast" and will receive "the seal of God" (Rev. 13:16, 17; 7:1-4).

Are they fanatics? Extremists? Strait-laced grumpy "saints"? No way! Jesus got in on the perfection debate Himself on the Good News side. He said: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). In saying so, He gives us the key to unlock the perplexity. His context is learning to love like the Father loves, who sends His rain and sunshine on the just and on the unjust, who loves bad people, even His enemies. Jesus' idea of "perfection" is simple: learning to love like that! John learned the idea from Him, for he also says that if you've learned to love like that, you "know God," you're "born of God," He "dwells in" you, you have "His Spirit," and you yourself "dwell in God." Furthermore, you overcome fear (which goes along with sin), and you end up "perfect" (see 1 John 4:7-18).

True, you and I were born totally bereft of such love (agape); but there's a filling station where the Holy Spirit "sheds it abroad in our hearts" (Rom. 5:5). Or to change the metaphor, it's the simple matter of going to school to learn it, "the school of Christ." The "best," proudest person must matriculate through the kindergarten.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 12, 1999.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Revival and Reformation (part 2)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What's the difference between a revival and reformation in the church that is Old Covenant in nature and one that is New Covenant? We noted yesterday that the great reformation under King Josiah in 2 Chronicles was Old Covenant; why?

Should we not be able to tell the difference today? Suppose the world church today experiences a grand revival and reformation that is Old Covenant, would that hasten the coming of Jesus, or further delay Him?

What are the differences?

(a) Old Covenant reformation is decidedly temporary. In the case of Josiah's, the moment he was dead, his sons began leading the people back to rebellion against the Lord and the people willingly, mindlessly followed like sheep going astray. No root, no foundation. From then on it was disaster all the way down to total national ruin. They had learned no long-lasting gospel truth under King Josiah. That wasn't the poor man's fault: he had simply inherited the Old Covenant yoke, which the nation of Israel had fastened upon themselves at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19:8; Heb. 9:1). The apostle Paul was probably the first Israelite to discern clearly the significance of their Old Covenant history when he said, "The law was our schoolmaster [slave driver?] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (as Abraham was, under the New Covenant; see Gal. 3:16-25).

(b) Numerous Old Covenant revivals and reformations have come and gone in the world church for the past 150 years; King Josiah all over again.

(c) They have often been inspired by and imported from the popular ecumenical movements, the Keswick Movement in the 19th century and now, the popular revivalism.

(d) Old Covenant revival and reformation is motivated by a desire to receive God's blessings; New Covenant revival and reformation is motivated by heart-thankfulness and appreciation for God's blessings already realized and received.

(e) Old Covenant revival is therefore egocentric in nature; and whatever is egocentric in motivation has to be legalistic in its origin. In contrast, New Covenant revival and reformation is based on an experience of identity with Christ that transcends fear of being lost or hope of reward (1 John 4:16-18).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 12, 1999.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Revival and Reformation (part 1)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How long has it been since you sat down and read Second Chronicles in the Bible?

There are some happy things in it, like King Jehoshaphat sending the choir out to sing in front of the army that had to meet the huge armies of Moab, Ammon, and Edom (chapter 20). God wonderfully delivered His people. Jehoshaphat led out in wonderful revivals and reformations, but "the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers" (20:33), and the Lord destroyed the ships that the king had built (vs. 37). His son Jehoram rebelled against the Lord (chapter 21). His son Ahaziah was also evil (chapter 22).

Next came the reign of terror under Queen Athaliah (22:10). Then the beautiful story of how the priest Jehoiada saved the royal infant Joash and put him on the throne (chapter 23). And guess what King Joash did when he grew up? Turned away from the godly example of Jehoiada, and murdered Jehoiada's son Zechariah (24:17-22; this was in the 8th century before Christ, yet He fixed the guilt for that murder on the Jewish leaders of His day; Matt. 23:35).

Joash's son Amaziah was also an evil king (chapter 25), followed by a good king, Uzziah. What a welcome relief to have a king who did what was right and whom God blessed! "But when [King Uzziah] was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction"; he grew arrogant, and that led to his downfall (26:16). He was stricken with leprosy for his arrogance (vss. 19-21).

King Hezekiah was a welcome relief from the almost endless litany of rebellion against the Lord, but at the end, he too was out of harmony with God's blessed will for him, and he left the most awful legacy on the nation--gave them his son Manasseh, the most wicked king Judah ever had (Jer. 15:4).

King Josiah was Hezekiah's grandson, and he was a "perfect" king, did everything exactly right, followed the Spirit of Prophecy meticulously (chapters 34-35), but ended up rejecting the living demonstration of the Spirit of Prophecy because it came to him from an unlikely source--the mouth of the King of Egypt (35:20-24). He died in the battle that God expressly told him not to go into, and from then on it was downhill all the way for Jerusalem, the Temple, and for David's Kingdom until King Zedekiah and the burning of the Temple and the city, "there was no remedy" (36:15, 16).

What went wrong? Why were all those revivals and reformations so short-lived? Why are ours today? The answer: they were all based on Old Covenant principles. Yes, the Old Covenant was good; but not good enough! [More tomorrow.]

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 10, 1999.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Word "That Turned the World Upside Down"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to "love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." But no one knew what He meant. It went right over people's heads (Matt. 5:44). No one really understood the true dimensions of "love" until the cross (cf. Eph. 3:18, 19). The word Jesus used for "love" was not the ordinary, day-to-day one that people used in the Greek or Latin world--it was AGAPE. The idea was foggy; it couldn't be defined until the cross.

The world marvels at the miracle of His resurrection after three days in the tomb; but the even greater miracle was the love He demonstrated. It was unearthly--had never been seen since time began. Every crucifixion done by the Romans had been a demonstration of cursing, invective, raw hatred; here was one where the Victim prayed for His murderers! It became talked about throughout the Empire. No advertising could have been purchased at any price that was more effective for proclaiming the gospel.

This love known as agape is a different genre than what we call love. Unlike the "natural" love we are born with that loves its own, or loves nice people, agape loves ugly people, mean people, unworthy people, yes, enemies. Unheard of!

On the lips of the apostles, it became the word "that turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Its origin was unearthly. It had to be "poured into" emptied human hearts from an Outside source (Rom. 5:5). It couldn't be conveyed by lectures; it can't be propagated by PowerPoint; it has to be communicated by a white hot flame burning in a human heart that has been deeply moved by the Holy Spirit (any willing human heart will do!).

You look, you stare, you wonder; you "behold the Lamb of God" on His cross. Takes time--you'll be doing it right on into eternity.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 5, 2004.

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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.

Monday, April 09, 2012

Heaven's Secret Service Agents

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What are "guardian angels"? Does everybody have one? Why do they protect some people and not others? It's good for us to ask questions. We need to know how to get those angels detailed to serve us. They are more efficient than armed bodyguards or the President's Secret Service aides. Please note:

(1) We live in Enemy-controlled territory, his majesty the devil being "the prince of this world" (John 14:30).

(2) It is coming increasingly under his control, "defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth," not merely in a physical sense but also morally (Isa. 24:5, 6). When "the princes of this world" expelled Christ from the world (1 Cor. 2:8) they chose a criminal in His place, and crucified Him (Acts 3:14, 15). Jesus is therefore persona non grata in this wicked world (cf. 1 John 5:19).

(3) But although He is in exile from this earth, He has sent His vicar, the Holy Spirit, to be with those who believe in Him (John 14:16, 17; 16:7-13). His presence with God's people is equivalent to Jesus personally being with them (14:18). For centuries, the Holy Spirit has not only "comforted" Christ's loyal believers, He has also exercised a restraining power on the evil in the world (Rev 7:1-4).

(4) Guardian angels are detailed to be "ministering spirits, sent forth [detailed] to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation"--Heaven's Secret Service agents sent to protect "royalty," who by faith have become members of the "family of God" (Heb. 1:14; Eph. 3:15; 1 Peter 2:9).

(5) Common sense sees that those thus protected must be people whose lives are dedicated to "the King's business," to Jesus.

(6) We cannot hazard a guess about others, why they apparently didn't have angels' protection; good sense would tell us that when we pray "in the name of Jesus" we must sincerely be living for Him.

(7) Ask for an angel guard; that is, "pray without ceasing," as families. Then--let us not fear but believe that "the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear [reverence] Him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). If you can read this, that means you have their protection thus far!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 6, 1999.

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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.