Daily Bread: February 2013

Thursday, February 28, 2013

"This Man Welcomes Sinners!"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever been tempted to doubt you belong in God's house? Does He consider you a homeless outsider? When you feel sinful and unworthy and have fallen short, you wonder.

One day a Bible writer (who, we don't know!), came to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem feeling guilty and unworthy to enter in. Then he saw a sight that encouraged him: a little sparrow had made its home in some little nook or cranny in the most holy section of the temple, right near the sacred altar. There it was, twittering in joy, laying its eggs, and rearing its young in that part of Solomon's glorious temple where even the ordinary priests had no permission to enter! In fact, only the great high priest of Israel was permitted to enter that twice-sacred spot, and that on only one day in the entire year. And there was the little sparrow, totally unconcerned about the stay-away rules of Leviticus, confident of a welcome in the house of the Lord!

Then the poet wrote Psalm 84: "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; ... Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God" (vss. 1-3, NIV).

It is possible that Jesus had that poem in mind when He told the disciples, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:29-31).

If you own a home and if your soul is generous, you will enjoy making visitors feel welcome. It will be fun for you. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). That word translated "pleased" means that it's fun for the Father to do that! He enjoys welcoming sinners to His house. It's constantly "open house" night and day. "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!'" (Rev. 22:17). Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened" (Matt. 11:28). "Burdened" with what? More than carrying sacks of cement or office work! "Burdened" with sin, convictions of selfishness, vain regrets.

"Blessed [happy] are those who dwell in Your house" (Psalm 84:4). You are invited; come as you are, don't try to dress up first. For once the Pharisees were right, "This Man welcomes sinners!" (Luke 15:2).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 7, 1999.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Love That "Never Fails"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Can you imagine how a man can continue to truly love a woman who is mean to him? Such a love may be rare, but it is the kind of a love that “suffers long,” that “bears all things, ... endures all things,” a love that “never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8). Don’t be surprised. That word translated as “love” is agape, which is not only the spiritual love of Christ for us--it is also conjugal love, the love of a man for a woman (see Eph. 5:25 where we read the same word in “husbands, love your wives”). That is a love beyond the “chemistry” that is mere sexual passion in a brief infatuation. It’s the kind of love similar to that of Abraham Lincoln when he gave Mary Todd a ring inscribed, “Love is eternal.”

Can you imagine the conjugal love that Jesus has for a church that He says is His “wife”? It’s a love that is more than mere pity or compassion or forgiveness; the love of a husband for a “wife” who has mistreated him when he still loves her is the kind of love that “controls” him--and that’s the love Christ has for His Bride-to-be, His church (Eph. 5:25; Rev. 19:7, 8). He does not stand toward her as a Judge, but as a Lover. True, His church is feeble, defective, and unfaithful; but He still cannot turn from her to another “woman,” mysterious as that love may be for us to understand. He simply loves “one.”

The love that is agape does not depend on the goodness or value of its object, but it creates value in its object. A heart response to that love will motivate His church to “make herself ready” for “the marriage of the Lamb.”

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 11, 2004.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Reading Daniel and Revelation

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Are you perplexed and confused about how the world is going? What our future holds? What book to read that will make you understand Revelation? Or Daniel? Start looking for someone's book to explain it all and you'll probably end up in confusion unlimited (that's what Revelation's "Babylon" is). Here's some common sense guidance:

(1) Do precisely what Jesus said to do: read Daniel for yourself. "Whoso readeth, let him understand" (Matt. 24:15). The message is clear: The book is UN-sealed today (Dan. 12:3, 4, 10). God wants you to understand! This is not to say reject all help any book can give you (several old books have given me great help); but the promise is firm that "whoso reads let the Holy Spirit (who is willing) teach him to understand." "Take heed that no man deceive you," says Jesus (Matt. 24:4).

(2) Do precisely what the Holy Spirit invites you to do in Revelation 1:1-3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep [cherish] those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Simple enough, right?

Mix some good self-humbling common sense with your reading. Paul cautions us, "I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man [or woman, anthropos] that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). Resist the temptation to think that you are a genius; read in order to find the "bread of life" that will nourish your own famishing soul (John 6:35, 48-63). Don't wander away from the cross of Jesus into vain political or theological speculations.

(3) Peter plants our feet on solid ground: "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Respect the accumulated wisdom of consecrated Protestant Bible students of past centuries; the Holy Spirit has not been asleep. He has guided the thinking of those who understood Daniel and Revelation in the time-honored historicist understandings. When Jesus said "let [the reader] understand" He obviously meant: don't resist the Holy Spirit's teaching. He wants to teach you--more than you may want to learn! What you yearn to see is Jesus in history.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 1, 2003.

Monday, February 25, 2013

"Agape Is the Fulfilling of the Law"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

"Good morning, your majesty, King Solomon!" Suppose God were to address you that way? You'd say, "But I don't have his wisdom!" But we are coming to the time when you'll need it. We face very perplexing problems: shall we believe Genesis 1-3 that God created the earth in six literal days, or be crushed under the scientists who declare that evolution alone is the answer and ridicule us who believe in the First Great Miracle of the Bible? Shall women be ordained or is that wrong? Is salvation by faith alone or by faith-plus-works? Are the Daniel/Revelation time prophecies a day-for-a-year, or meaningless jargon? Is there a manifestation of God's "spirit of prophecy" today as clearly inspired as were the prophets of old? How can we judge between truth and subtly disguised error?

Two woman confronted King Solomon: each claimed a certain baby was hers. #1 loudly pressed her claim; #2 was more quiet. The king couldn't run any DNA tests. It seemed impossible to know who was telling the truth. Ah, he has a bright idea! He will employ the test of love. "Sorry, ladies, I can't judge which of you two is telling the truth. So, let's be fair. Bring me a knife, I'll cut the baby in two and give each of you half." #1 simply folded her arms and awaited the result; #2 shrieked loud enough to be heard down at the Temple. "No, your majesty! Give #1 the baby. I can't bear to see you kill it!" Love had shown the king who was the true mother.

In every theological puzzle that confronts you, where the evidence seems balanced between opposite views, don't throw up your hands in despair, and decide to sit on the fence. You can't! At the end of the road, you're going to have to decide frankly and openly between the "mark of the beast" and "the seal of God" (Rev. 13:16, 17; 7:1-4). Look to see where is agape, the true biblical love. Don't be fooled by the foolish, shallow sentimental "love" that is the counterfeit ofagape.

Keeping the commandments of God will be the final test in the great controversy between Christ and Satan; but let's remember that only "agape is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). Outward conformity to the letter of the Ten Commandments may mask a heart that is bitterly devoid ofagape. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 1, 1999.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Saying "No" to Temptation

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever understood and appreciated how many times the Lord in His great mercy has saved you from falling into some open (or secret) sin that would have ruined you? For example, take Proverbs 22:14: "The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; he who is abhorred of the Lord will fall there."

If the Lord has held you by the hand and preserved you from that "fall," you can sing the Hallelujah chorus a thousand times. (Someone might be reading this who actually fell into the "pit," and he or she feels bad; well, remember that if the Lord "abhors you" He still loves you; what He "abhors" is not you personally, but that kind of behavior; there is hope for you.)

If in spite of your love for money you have been enabled to remain upright in the face of temptation. Again, you can be profoundly thankful to Him; it's not your "righteousness" that has preserved you, it's His.

Maybe you have wondered how holy beings can sing over and over their praises to the Lord; that's one reason--He has saved them from ruining their lives.

Isaiah comments about His special care for you, personally and individually: "'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.'" (He hasn't promised that no voice will ever be raised against you--all He promises is that you will "condemn" that accusation and He will defend you from it. "'This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the Lord" (Isa. 54:17).

The Lord is so good to us, because of His much more abounding grace, that we can make progress all our lives; gaining such victories, we can grow day by day "like a tree." The time will come when we will find it is actually "easy" to say "No!" to temptation. Then Titus 2:11-14 (see NIV) will be fulfilled to us and we shall rejoice in it forevermore.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 22, 2008.

Friday, February 22, 2013

One of the Biggest "IF's" in the Bible

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's one of the biggest "IF's" in the Bible and it makes us wonder why the Lord let it get in there: "IF any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5, NKJV).

Have you ever met anyone who had all the wisdom he or she needs? It seems we all lack it, even the great King Solomon, said to have been the wisest man who ever lived. He so "lacked wisdom" that like a fool he fell into that awful "deep pit" of "the mouth of an immoral woman" whom the Lord never intended him to marry; "he who is abhorred of the Lord will fall there," he himself had said (Prov. 22:14). Those women led him to ruin.

The apostle James encourages you to receive this priceless gift of wisdom:

(1) If you have been delivered from arrogance and you realize your emptiness of wisdom, thank God for this clear evidence that the Lord does not "abhor" you. Remember, He can love you dearly and at the same time "abhor" your spiritual stupidity. A good dose of feeling how much the Lord "abhors" one can be a tremendous blessing.

(2) The call to "any of you" means that the Lord puts all of us, educated and not, on a level in His sight: work yourself almost to death getting a dozen doctoral degrees and you can still remain a fool. If you are someone who has never had the chance to get "higher education" (there are still such people in the world), please don't despair and think of yourself as handicapped. There's a story in our precious book of Ecclesiastes about a "poor ... man" who was nevertheless "wise" who saved a city from almost certain conquest (but nobody ever thought to thank him; yet he "lives" in genuine fame, 9:13-15).

(3) You wisdom-needing soul, be happy: the Lord does not bawl you out and make you feel like two cents because you "lack wisdom." He gives it to you "liberally and without reproach." Oh, I love that! No berating, no torrent of reproach. He respects you as well as loves you! His affection for you is not that of yours for your dog. He honors you! He is constantly trying to build your self-respect.

(4) He is training you to sing a beautiful solo: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit [if He has saved you from fornication or adultery, sing the Hallelujah chorus], out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. And He has put a new song in my mouth" that "many" will rejoice to hear (Psalm 40:1-3).

Be happy! You are "blessed" (Matt. 5:3).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 22, 2007.

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

What John the Revelator "Saw"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is a promise (or prophecy) tucked away in an obscure corner of the Bible that people don't seem to talk about, but nevertheless it's there awaiting the future.

It's about the last-days' events that will startle the world when God's people humble their hearts and lay self aside and let the Holy Spirit teach and guide them--that is, when the corporate "self" of the church is "crucified with Christ," and He only exalted.

The Lord doesn't dare let this prophecy be fulfilled so long as His church would become proud or arrogant because of it, for it is something that would startle the world more than anything else imaginable; so much so that thoughtful people just say it's impossible.

It's what John the Revelator "saw": "Something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory [had gotten the victory, KJV] over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God" (15:2).

Multitudes who love the Bible and "tremble at [the Lord's] word" (Isa. 66:2; "tremble" with excitement) recognize (a) that the "beast" of Revelation 13:1-8 is Romanism; and (b) "the mark of the beast" is its arrogant claim to have the authority to abolish and change the holy law of God that says "the seventh day" is the Lord's holy Sabbath, instituting the first day instead; and (c) that the "image" of the beast is that segment of professed Protestantism that has abandoned "protesting" and has adopted the essential nature of Romanism.

But (d)? "The number of his name"?

That is the Roman Catholic headquarters of Romanism, the heart of the papacy, the Curia. And the inspired prophecy declares that there will be some from this group who will respond positively to the "light" of that "other angel" of Revelation 18 whose message will "illuminate" the earth with "glory," a final message of justification by faith that will startle the world and will call every honest-hearted soul now in "Babylon" to "come out of her, My people" (vs. 4).

Does the Lord Jesus Christ Himself personally want this glorious denouement of Bible prophecy to take place now in "this generation"? Yes!

When the collective or corporate "self" of "the remnant church" (Rev. 12:17) has received the "atonement" and is reconciled to Him, the earth will be "lightened." God will know how to grip the world's attention!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 30, 2007.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Grand Paradigm Shift in Our Thinking

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The climax of the book of Revelation is not the reward that the saints will receive for their self-sacrifice in following Jesus, but the reward that Christ will receive for His great sacrifice.

It is a grand paradigm shift in thinking for us to get our minds off praying about our reward ("Lord, please be sure to save me and my loved ones"), and begin to think of Christ and the reward that He deserves.

Isaiah speaks of Him, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied" (53:11). It's like little children finally growing up so they can be mature and think of the "travail" of their mother in bearing them and of their parents in caring for them.

God's people cannot remain children forever. "Let us go on to full growth," to "maturity" (Heb. 6:1, 2), to the possibility, yes, to the blessing of being able to think of Him rather than always thinking of ourselves. This is the interesting turn that the story in Song of Solomon 5:2ff takes when the bride-to-be, warm and snug in bed on this cold rainy night can change her thinking from how much fun it is to snuggle under the covers, and begins to be able to think of her true Lover out there in the rain "knocking" on her door.

The famous "Laodicean message" that we have all memorized by now has its setting in that little story, for Jesus concludes His last days' message with a quotation from that story: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Rev. 3:20; taken from the LXX). The original story tells how she finally repents and gets up to let Him in; how long she left Him out there "knocking" it doesn't say; but when she got to her side of the door, she found him "gone." (In our case it's well over a century.)

We cannot always serve as the flower girl at the wedding, "the marriage of the Lamb" (cf. Rev. 19:7, 8). God's people in a corporate sense must become the "wife" at the wedding.

And that must be the ability to appreciate "the travail" that the Bridegroom has gone through. With no trace of extremism, the remnant will learn to proclaim "nothing ... except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).

All that the little flower girl at the wedding cares about is the refreshments; the bride has begun to enter into the Bridegroom's thinking and to feel for him (at least, let's hope so; else there can not be a happy marriage!). Those who have never learned to appreciate "the travail" of the Savior cannot be happy in His personal presence. Which is the practical truth of shutting oneself out of heaven by one's unfitness for its companionship. Let's use our last few moments of time in learning to understand.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 9, 2007.

Copyright © 2013 by "Dial Daily Bread."

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Book of Hebrews--A Precious Treasure

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

One of the most precious treasures possessed by the believer in Christ is the Book of Hebrews, yet often neglected. It's like a casket of jewels. Seven of the most prominent are:

(1) Chapter one details how Christ is eternally pre-existent, one with the Father, equal, the Source of all life, as is said, "original, unborrowed, underived."

(2) Chapter two details His real humanity, "made like unto His brethren," "in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin" (2:17, 18; 4:15).

(3) Chapter three introduces Him, in consequence of His identification with us in chapter 2, as our great High Priest, our attention to Him being invited ("consider Him").

(4) Chapters four to six detail the tragic results of hard-hearted unbelief (the terrible danger all of us face).

(5) Chapters seven and eight develop further the core idea of "Christian perfection of character" which like a silver thread runs throughout the Book of Hebrews. Ministering the Good News of such "perfection" is the work of the High Priest, who is "able to save to the uttermost (perfectly) those who come unto God by Him." Warnings are seen all through the book to us to cooperate with Him, but we cannot save or perfect ourselves. (Cleansing the Hebrew sanctuary was always the work of the high priest, never the work of the people; but they were to let him do it, to cooperate with him to gather around the sanctuary on the day of atonement.)

(6) Chapters nine and ten make clear that there are two phases of our great High Priest's heavenly ministry: (a) the antitypical ministry in the first apartment of the sanctuary (ta hagia in the Greek) where He began to minister at His ascension, and (b) His closing ministry in the second apartment, the Most Holy (hagia hagion, Greek) on the antitypical Day of Atonement. It seems obvious even to a child that Christ's ministry in the first apartment is to prepare His people to die--a wonderful work indeed; but His ministry in the second apartment is intended to prepare a people to meet the final tests of the mark of the beast, the seal of God, the final time of trouble, and translation at the second coming of Christ--all of which the Bible has much to say.

(7) Finally, Hebrews leaves us with the assurance that all the power of the Father who brought Jesus from the dead is directed now to the unprecedented work of preparing a people, to "make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight" (13:21). Good News!

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 13, 2000.

Monday, February 18, 2013

"Seventy Times Seven"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A question that perplexed the disciples of Jesus perplexes us today: Peter asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" The "sin" obviously was not an ordinary one: it was "against" Peter, something that wounded him personally. The apostle was mature enough spiritually to realize that "seven" is a complete number; it must be the limit for this difficult task.

The sin "against" him was so hurtful that Peter felt it threatened his personhood. Already he was beginning to sense dimly that Jesus was a "Forgiver": little inklings of what led Him later to pray for His murderers, "Father, forgive them!" were showing through. Peter understood that it was his duty to forgive; but it was difficult to do! Nurturing resentment was so sweet to indulge in.

When Jesus enlarged the limit to "seventy times seven" He told about the enormously guilty yet forgiven thief who couldn't forgive his debtor his trifling debt. He ended the little session with the blunt warning that His heavenly Father will not forgive us our "trespasses" "if [we] do not forgive from [our] heart [our] brother his trespasses," obviously those we feel are so "against" us (Matt. 18:21-35).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 26, 2005.

Friday, February 15, 2013

A Gift the Church Neglects to Receive

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Over a century ago, in a British magazine, The Present Truth, a thoughtful writer wrote something that is still "present truth" today (sadly so). The almost unknown author (Ellet J. Waggoner) had been discussing how God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be the greatest nation on earth (Gen. 12:2, 3). And that promise had been fulfilled to Israel in the "dominion" of David and his descendants.

But the last to sit on his throne was one King Zedekiah who had tragically abandoned the promise to Abraham, had disgraced the name of God before the world by "abominable idolatry," and "broke a solemn oath" in the Lord's holy name before international attention. Ezekiel had said that God will "overturn, overturn, overturn" that "dominion" which had been given to Israel, "and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him," thus pointing to the second coming of Christ (21:19-27).

Then the author reviewed the "three great revolutions" that had come as a consequence of Israel's tragic apostasy from her high calling--the rise of Babylon as a world empire, Medo-Persia, then Grecia, and lastly, the world dominion of Rome. None of these "dominions" would have been necessary in history had it not been for Israel's terrible failure.

Then came this obscure author's provocative statement: "It is not for us to know the times and the seasons which the Father has put in His own power; but we know that when all the professed church of Christ shall consent to be filled with His Spirit, the whole world will soon hear the Gospel message in the fulness of its power, and the end will come, when the groaning creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glory of the liberty of the children of God" (Rom. 8:21; The Present Truth, Feb. 25, 1897).

Backwards from current popular thought, which has the church begging God to give His consent to give the Holy Spirit; instead, it has God begging His church on earth to "consent to be filled with His Spirit." Revolutionary insight! God trying His best to give the gift while the church neglects her "consent" to receive it.

This particular author has long since gone to his rest. Could he have dreamed that over a century later that "consent" would still be pending?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 15, 2003.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Everyone's New "Parents"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Is it hard work to be "born again"? We know that we need to be changed from the inside out. Years of being what we are have made us set in our ways, we feel. Our problems are a part of us, through and through, whether it's lust, appetite, jealousy, or whatever vice has a hold on us. How can we become really different than what we just are?

We can change the color of our hair but how can we change the color of our eyes? If we were born to be short how can we become tall? For a selfish person to become unselfish seems as impossible. And most poignantly, for a lustful, sexually impure person (a rapist? an abuser?) to become pure in heart seems totally impossible--so say our courts of law.

And now here comes Jesus telling us that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). To many people it sounds like a death-knell. "I am what I am, and there's no way I can be different! If only blue-eyed people can enter heaven, I'm sunk for I have brown eyes!"

Sit down and read the whole of John 3. Nicodemus asked precisely the same questions. You'll be surprised how much better is Jesus' Good News of the new birth than what we have thought it is:

(1) Because of what Jesus accomplished on His cross, the Holy Spirit has become everyone's new "parents." When He impregnated the Virgin Mary to bring Jesus to birth, He impregnated everyone with a divine seed of a new life to be formed within. The new birth is not you "born-ing" yourself anew (excuse me; we need a new verb); "the wind bloweth where it listeth," says Jesus; "so is everyone that is born of the [Holy] Spirit." He is constantly casting seeds into human hearts, for Christ is the "Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (1:9). The "seed" is the Light of Good News in Christ.

(2) Now, don't practice abortion on the new life that the Holy Spirit is constantly begetting within you. Stop resisting Him. If you choose darkness, you set yourself up for judgment.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 17, 2002.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Agape Love "Never Fails"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

St. Valentines Day is a pagan festival imported into Christianity. But therein lies an important insight into living real life.

The original pagan gods involved were Eros (Greek) and Cupid (Latin). To this day Cupid is often pictured as a cherub shooting arrows from his bow, the idea being that if he strikes a couple, they are programmed to fall in love. Very nice.

The "love" with which they fall in love is of course eros, which is love based on the goodness or the beauty of its object. It is said that all the world loves a couple who are in love. But the eros-love that Cupid shoots in his arrow is not a lasting love unless the other love, agape, takes its place. Only agape love "never fails" (1 Cor. 13:8, NKJV).

Cupid may do very well shooting his arrows to lead couples to fall in love, but the problem is that he can also shoot arrows to cause them to fall out of love again. Broken hearts and bitter lives can follow.

Through Satan's deceptive wiles, youth imagine that the love that is agape spoils all the fun, and they instinctively shy away. "Falling in love is MY business!" they say. But let's not forget that if the Son of God, the Savior, gave Himself for us, He bought us and redeemed us from the kind of death that is eternal; His utterly self-sacrificing love deserves His having what He paid for--your affections.

When youth recognize that eternal truth that shines in the cross of Christ, they will outwit Cupid. Their love will be purified from selfishness--that bitter enemy of love. Their love will be incomparably delightful. The love they will know together will be a fabric woven stronger than any loom on earth can weave. Their love will be that described in the Song of Solomon: "Love is powerful as death; … no flood can drown it" (8:6, 7, GNB).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 14, 2006.

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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.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Light Flashing on Your Pathway

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 that 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 where God's people can go.

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.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 26, 2004.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/dailybread/
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To un-subscribe click on this link: Unsubscribe me from this list
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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.

Friday, February 08, 2013

You Can't Run Away From Divine Love

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Sometimes divorce occurs in our sin-cursed world, and somebody is hurt deeply. When one is disappointed thus in love, the wound is profound and lasting--sometimes for an entire life.

Does Jesus care? Does the Holy Spirit, who is infinite, notice the loss? He sees when a little bird falls to the forest floor and He cares (Matt. 10:29, 30). Yes, the Lord cares about the pain that the denial of love can bring. The loss due to death is grievous, but the pain that comes when a loved one turns on you in bitterness and hatred is even more painful to endure. But there is no earthly pain that the "much more abounding grace" of the Lord Jesus (see Rom. 5:20) does not relieve with everlasting comfort.

The Lord has not promised us that we will never have such pain to endure, but He has promised that He will substitute for it the goodness of His personal presence, in deep soul comfort. And no earthly fellowship is so soul enriching; for the One who is both your Creator and your Redeemer knows every single and intensely personal aspect of your individual soul.

That is what Psalm 139 has been telling us all along: "Thou understandest my thought afar off ... and art acquainted with all my ways. .. If I take the wings of the morning, ... even there shall Thy hand lead me. ... Even the night shall be light about me."

Divine love like that (agape) you can't run away from!

"How precious also are [His] thoughts unto [all of us], O God! .. When I awake, I am still with Thee. ... Search me, O God, ... try me, .. and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Amen and amen!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 27, 2008.