Daily Bread: May 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Is There Good News for Loneliness?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How can you be happy when no one's with you? You can be lonely in a crowd of people in the mall; in church; in school; in the office; even in your own family; and of course when you're the only person within your four walls. Is there some Good News for loneliness? Yes!

That's one of the problems that Jesus is well acquainted with. He says, "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me" (Isa. 63:3). "I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none" (Psalm 69:20). Not one disciple even was there to say a word of encouragement to Him in His dying hour, for "they all forsook Him and fled" (Mark 14:50).

You can be sure that such a One is near to you when you are lonely, for "yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4). Note: that's not talking only about your death bed: it says "the shadow of death," that is, the dark lonely experiences we have even as teenagers that are the "shadow" of what will come much, much later.

In your loneliness, you hunger for human companionship; that's OK, and natural. But that will ALWAYS disappoint you. Even the best husband or wife in the world cannot take the place of the "Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:24). That 23rd Psalm assures you of companionship that alone is totally satisfying.

Mystics talk about "practicing the presence of God," so they set a chair out for "Him" to sit in. You don't need even a whiff of idolatry! Even if Jesus were to come and sit down in your guest chair, He wouldn't be as close to you as He is in fact through your faith. A Friend closer even than someone who has his/her arms around you, for the promise is that "He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:17).

Check it out; get on your knees and talk to Him; you'll know how close He is, because He will for certain respond to you, and always with some kind of message of hope. But don't hoard Him to yourself; somehow, share Him with someone else who is lonely.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 12, 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.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Dominant Element of the Final Message

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The story of Joseph in the Bible is no fairy tale; Egyptian history and archeology attest how true to historic life the details are. It fits well in the Hyksos era, for the Pharaohs were not native Egyptians. They could well have employed a Hebrew in a high government post. Egyptian records show how there came a change in national economy when all the land except in temples was acquired by the crown. We can trust our Bible story!

Is Joseph a type of the church that will proclaim a message that "lightens the earth with glory" in our last days? This special church is given "the spirit of prophecy" as Joseph was gifted (see Rev. 12:17; 19:10). It must pass the test of moral purity, as Joseph passed the test with Potiphar's wife tempting him. "Fornication" or "adultery" is not to be even mentioned among that people who "overcome even as Christ overcame" (Rev. 3:21).

The church that proclaims a message that lightens the earth with glory will suffer persecution, as Joseph suffered it from his brothers and even his father. The last-days' message will save people; lives will be changed; characters will become "at one" with God. Joseph saved many people's lives; the "remnant church" will proclaim a message that will lead many souls to eternal life.

But every one who will partake of the blessing will know first-hand "the chastening of the Lord" (Heb. 12:5-12). That will make more distinct how much the Lord loves him or her! That agape will be the dominant element of the final message.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 26, 2007.

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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, May 28, 2013

The Only Good News This Dark World Has

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The true gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thoroughly Good News this dark world has. Every human being is by nature a descendant of the fallen head of the human race--Adam; the Bible calls that fallen nature "the flesh." The "works" or "fruit" of the flesh is an endless catalog of evil that always ends in misery.

But Paul dares to tell us in Galatians that if we have chosen to give ourselves to Christ and to "walk with the [Holy] Spirit," He will hold us by the hand so we won't stumble into those allurements of sin, even though our sinful nature would push us into it. "Ye cannot do the [evil] things that ye would" (5:16-18).

BUT ... Proverbs gives you the same Good News that Galatians does ("wisdom" is Christ, cf. 1 Cor. 1:24): "Wisdom ... will provide you with life--a pleasant and happy life. You can go safely on your way and never even stumble. ... The Lord will keep you safe [from sin!]. He will not let you fall into a trap" (3:21-26). "Your insight and understanding will protect you and prevent you from doing the wrong thing" (2:11, 12, GNB). Same as Paul's Good News!

When life is over, you will take not an iota of credit to yourself. You will gladly confess, "By grace [I] have been saved through faith, and that not of [myself]. IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD" (Eph. 2:8, 9). Isaiah reminds us, "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord" (54:17).

Believe that today, and your heart will overflow with gratitude. You'll have heaven on earth.

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 18, 2006.

Monday, May 27, 2013

The Long Overdue Message

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

As another Memorial Day goes into history in the U.S., we pray that the Lord may "make wars to cease unto the end of the earth [and] break the bow, and cut the spear in sunder, and burn the chariots in the fire" (that is, the murderous tanks and assault bombers; see Psalm 46:9). The very name of Jesus, the Son of God, is "the Prince of peace" (Isa. 9:6). Millions sacrificed their lives in World War I in order to fight "the war to end all wars," only to have died in vain as World War II sent many more millions into undeserved death.

The angels announced at His birth that Jesus would bring "on earth peace [and] good will toward men" (see Luke 2:14). But the Prince of peace was "despised and rejected of men," and expelled from the world He came to save. Those whose lives spanned much of the 20th century lived through the most bloody years the earth has ever known in its 6000 years of history.

According to the Bible, the only way that the Prince of peace could bring peace to the earth without being "frustrated" and stymied would be for His people to cooperate with Him in His work. In other words, it's useless for us to pray, "Prince of peace, please bring peace to this hate-filled, war-riven world," unless we serve as His agents in enabling Him to do so. "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you," He declares (John 20:21). He is the Vine, we are the branches that must be intimately bound with Him for His purposes to be worked out in the earth.

He spells out the formula in Revelation 7:1-4. There He promises that He will undertake to "hold the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow," provided His people on earth proclaim "the seal of the living God." He commands those terrible four winds that began to break loose in World Wars I and II, in the Vietnam War, the Iraq and other wars, "Hurt not the earth ... till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

It's an illusion for God's people to assume that horrible wars contribute to the progress of God's work by bringing conviction to hearts and taking away our "idols." It's not His plan to forcibly remove our "idols"! War terrorizes people so they can't even contemplate the Gospel. No, war has no redeeming evangelistic value. Now let us learn what is His "sealing message" and commit ourselves to proclaim it. It's the long overdue message that is yet to "lighten the earth with glory" (Rev. 18:1-4). Lord, please awaken us!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 31, 2004.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

On the Cross Jesus Was Thinking Especially of Children

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In that last hour as He hung upon His cross, Jesus was thinking especially of boys and girls. The proof of this is found where we have perhaps overlooked it--Psalm 22.

That is the psalm that details for us the transition in His thoughts on the cross from His despairing cry, "My God why have You forsaken Me!" to His last triumphant, joy-filled shout, "It is finished!" Psalm 22 reveals His thoughts as though a stenographer was recording them.

The last few verses of Psalm 22 have been rather confusing in many translations. Note how Peterson seems to have caught the idea:

"Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore Him, you daughters of Israel. He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do His own thing; He has been right there, listening. ... From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before Him. ... All the poor and powerless, too--worshiping! Along with those who never got it together--worshiping! Our children and their children will get in on this as the word is passed along from parent to child. Babies not yet conceived will hear the Good News."

And then comes that one Hebrew word, the last word of Psalm 22 that defies translators:

ASAH, the word that means "It is finished!" Jesus' last thoughts were of the grand Loud Cry that closes the gospel dispensation when the earth is lightened with the glory of the final message, when the Voice from heaven calls all of God's people to "Come out of her [Babylon]."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 3, 2002.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Christ's On-going Priestly Ministry

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

By His uplifted cross and His on-going priestly ministry, Christ is drawing "all men" to repentance. His gracious love is so strong and persistent that the sinner must resist it in order to be lost.

Is this "good news" too good to be true? To be frank, some people say it is! They have the idea that it's not fair to let Jesus do all the work of saving us--somehow we must work to help Him save us.

This is just another way of saying that "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The Lord Jesus Christ does the "work" of seeking and saving you; now it's your job to let Him do it. Stop resisting Him through cherished unbelief.

Jesus insists on the metaphor of the Good Shepherd: "the ninety and nine" are safe in the fold; the Shepherd has had a long, hard day working; he is tired and hungry; his beloved wife has cooked his favorite supper and she urges him, "Come, sit down, and enjoy your meal I have prepared for you; you have worked hard enough today. Look at the lowering dark clouds, feel the wind picking up, a wild storm is brewing, dear!"

But the shepherd says, "I can't enjoy rest and the delicious meal you have cooked for me; I must go and find that one lost sheep!"

Why does the Shepherd say this?

He loves the one lost sheep!

And who is the lost sheep?

You.

And I.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 2009.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Grace to Endure Pain and Disappointment

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever been angry with God? For any reason? You prayed for something that you felt you needed, maybe healing, maybe happiness in marriage, maybe for a child, maybe for an honest job--and your prayer wasn't answered. Seemed like Heaven was closed to you. This is a common problem many people have; and some just turn their backs on the Lord. "If He doesn't care enough for me to help me, I'm through with Him!" But that's not the solution! Let's try to help a wee bit:

(1) God never promised He would be your lowly servant, to come and go at your request.

(2) He never promised that His children would be exempt from suffering, disappointment, pain. If He did "exempt" them, people would profess to follow Him who only wanted material benefit. Heaven would get crammed with hypocrites.

(3) Though He hasn't promised you "exemption" from what all human beings have to endure, He has unequivocally promised to give you grace (an inner peace) to endure your pain, sorrow, disappointment, in a way that honors your Savior.

(4) That endurance (Rom. 5:1-5) immediately admits you to the privileged inner circle of those who are "partakers of Christ's sufferings" (1 Peter 4:13).

(5) Bearing your suffering (whatever kind) in that spirit then qualifies you to be a member of the Lord's University Teaching Staff where you are given the joyous labor of helping someone else in his/her suffering. I'm serious! A Christian psychiatrist told me that a humble lay member who has genuine faith and sanctified understanding, can help a needy person as much as psychiatrists can. (I didn't say that--he did.) See Exodus 19:4-6; if Israel had been willing to believe the New Covenant, they would have become a "kingdom of priests," psychiatrists.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 18, 1997.

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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, May 22, 2013

A Flame That Burns in the Coldest Atmosphere

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13, does not make a lot of sense unless that word that Paul used--agape--is understood. Jesus also used it in Matthew 24:9-14, where He described the moral rot that pervades society worldwide, today: "Because iniquity shall abound, the agape of many shall wax cold."

The word "many" in the original is "the many," meaning the masses, that is, almost everybody. But there are a few exceptions, for He adds immediately, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." That is, those who hold on to their agape, not letting it get cold. Agape has to be warm, or it is gone. There we see the difference: it's warm-heartedness or cold-heartedness. One leads to eternal perishing, the other to eternal living.

What must wake us up is the fact that if we are exposed unrelentingly to the iniquity that is in the world, our agapewill grow cold. The word for iniquity in the original is anomia, which means heart-animosity against the law of God. The way to avoid contamination with that iniquity is not to bury yourself in a lonely cabin in the woods, even if you spend all your time reading the Bible, or joining a commune of super-spiritual people who isolate themselves. Jesus wouldn't do that.

There was iniquity everywhere in His day, too; but He mingled with people. The word agape describes a love that comes only from heaven; it is shed abroad in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5); because its source is the cross of Christ, its warmth never dies out of the heart of the believer; and no matter how chilling is the immoral atmosphere all around the believer, its built-in warmth is such a glowing fire that all of Satan's temptations are powerless to freeze it. A flame will burn even in the coldest atmosphere! The glow in your heart is lit by the flame of love revealed in God's gift of His Son. Don't take your eyes off that cross!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 3, 1998.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Encouragement From Habakkuk

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

I am sure that everybody who believes in the Lord shares a common problem: we seldom get answers to prayer as fast as we want them. Some get tired waiting and give up their faith. Habakkuk, in chapter 2, verse 3, encourages us not to give up: "The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

That word "tarry" in the Hebrew is two words. The Good News Bible has the idea: "The time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed." The idea is not that God is slow, that He has to be waked up, etc. He's very quick--so much so that Isaiah says He answers our prayers before we pray them ("before they call I will answer," 65:24), but the answer SEEMS slow to us. One reason is that there are hindrances to His answer getting through to us, as Daniel describes in 10:12, 13 where the angel tells him "From the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, ... thy words were heard, ... But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days."

It could well be that the Lord has already sent the answer to your prayer, but some similar hindrance has occurred. In the meantime, it's your job to believe in the Lord, to appreciate His character, to know that He is your Friend, not your Enemy. So David says over and over, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7). Wouldn't you be embarrassed if you became impatient like King Saul when he was waiting for the prophet Samuel to come and he went ahead in his impatience and did what he should not have done? (1 Sam. 13).

Habakkuk is telling us, "Don't get impatient; hang on. The Lord will not truly delay. It would be a pity if when His answer does come, you in the meantime have given up so you can't receive the blessing, and then like King Saul you lose everything!"

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 10, 1998.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

The Coming of the Kingdom

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Every time we pray the Lord's Prayer, we pray the prayer that may be over our heads in understanding: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).

The "kingdom" has not yet "come." It's been awaiting establishment now for two millennia since Christ gave us this prayer of expectation; many who reverence the Bible as the Word of God wrestle with the conviction that it's overdue. It's been hindered.

But they also are convicted that if there is any delay, the honor of God will be compromised. People wiser than I have said that.

The coming of "the kingdom" is equivalent to the great "other angel [who] came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe" (Rev. 14:15). It's the grand close of probationary history of this earth.

The coming of the kingdom is also equivalent to the grand climax of Christ's work as the world's High Priest: "We have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, ... not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:14, 15, KJV).

The High Priest's work is to reconcile the alienated hearts of God's people to Him; another name for that is the ministry of the antitypical Day of Atonement (a simple Anglo-Saxon word, at-one-with-God-in-heart). Yes, for that to happen would be a miracle; but that's what the Lord's Prayer has been praying for all this long while!

Another word for that is "the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary" (see Dan. 8:14), a phrase that makes sense only if it is understood as the cleansing of the hearts of God's people from all sin, known and also unknown. The honor and vindication of Christ in the great controversy with Satan is involved in thus establishing "the kingdom." That is our true motivation, something that transcends our concern for saving our own poor little souls.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 16, 2007.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Let the Author Teach You How to Pray

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Why did Jesus pray? Did He have to pray? We read that He was God in human flesh, "Immanuel, God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Did "God" need to pray to "God"? If Jesus was the Son of God, couldn't He accomplish His mission on His own without getting down low on His knees every day and talking humbly to His heavenly Father about His problems? It takes time to pray and He had lots to do; none of us prays unless we feel the need to pray. Did He feel such a need? Or was He simply acting out a charade as an example for us to copy? And what did He pray for?

The stark truth emerges that Jesus in His incarnation HAD to pray, or He would have gone under. Isaiah says that "the government" of earth and heaven was "on His shoulder," a weak, human shoulder (9:6). On His own He had to fight the infinite battle of eternity known as "the great controversy between Christ and Satan." The enemy of God had invented something never before known in the universe, a virus that threatened universal death, and it had taken up residence in fallen human flesh or human nature. That virus was sin, and it had to be defeated in that same fallen human flesh or nature, or the universe eventually would have had to succumb to sin and its "wages ... death" (Rom. 6:23).

In the human nature which Christ had "taken," He had to win the fearsome struggle with sin; He had to "condemn sin in the flesh," in "the likeness of sinful flesh" (8:3). No gladiators fighting hand to hand in the Roman Colosseum ever had a more fearsome personal struggle. Jesus was forced to battle on His own with none of His divine prerogatives; divine, yes; the Son of God, yes, but with no special advantage over us except His faith. His righteousness must be limited to righteousness by faith. He must be "the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2), the Author or Inventor of faith itself. But that's just what He gives to us--"the saints ... that keep ... the faith of Jesus" today (Rev. 14:12). Accept His faith! Let that Author teach you how to pray!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 5, 2001.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Gift of Repentance

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's fantastic, phenomenal, the wonder of heavenly angels who watch how the great bulk of humanity prefer Bad News to Good. When Someone came into our midst bringing us Good News, "we" were so upset with Him that "we" rose up and crucified Him. (Someone says, yes, but that was 2000 years ago and those were bad people; we are different. We have learned our lesson; we would never do that.)

Here's the root of our problem: the Bible says we are all the same--by nature. The New English Bible renders Romans 3:23 as, "All alike have sinned," and that is clearly what Paul says for in 8:7 he adds, "The carnal mind is enmity against God" (KJV). That "carnal mind" is standard DNA equipment for "all" of us, none are "exempted" from that universal inheritance, not even the Virgin Mary. All humans are born in a state of separation from God; we have to learn how to believe Good News (Mary learned!). We can claim no superiority of virtue over those of 2000 years ago. In a corporate sense, "they" were "we."

We cannot believe what Jesus says unless we believe that His "yoke is easy" and His "burden is light." But for sure, honest common sense tells us that believing that Good News is not "easy." Continually we humans, in the church or outside, slide into that groove of unbelief like the Israel who couldn't "enter into" their Promised Land "because of unbelief" (Heb. 4:6). Unbelief is still our corporate sin. But we don't have to stay in it.

If today, "compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses" after these millennia of history, we choose to go on in it, we shall draw upon ourselves the well-deserved condemnation of the ages (12:1; 6:4-8). We don't have to live in unbelief; we can repent of it, because the Holy Spirit is giving the GIFT of repentance (Acts 5:31). Let's grab it.

When we choose to believe how good is the true Good News, what a burden is lifted from our hearts! "By the adoption of children" the "Father has made us accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:3-6), members of the heavenly family! Don't walk away from it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 16, 2002.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Let's be "At-One" Today--in Agape

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Bible urges us, "Be ye reconciled to God," but how can our hearts be if we misunderstand His character of love? We must hear the gospel as common sense Good News, or lingering enmity will fester in our hearts. Fear of His role as Condemner in the final judgment creates alienation. Therefore the gospel of reconciliation ("atonement," at-one-ment with God) must be understood.

Jesus says the Father will not condemn anyone (John 5:22), and then adds that He also will not condemn "any" who "believe not" (12:46, 47). Then who will do the final condemning of those who "believe not" "in the last day"?

Jesus says, "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge [krinei, condemn] him in the last day" (vs. 48). Oh yes, there will be a "word" of condemnation in that day of final judgment, but Revelation says it will come from the lips of the lost themselves. All are said to gather before the "great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; ... The books were opened" (20:11, 12). Chapter 14 makes clear that the wicked cannot bear to look into the eyes of the Son of God (vs. 10), for in the final judgment, heaven and earth "flee away" from beholding that face!

When "the books [are] opened," every person will be keenly conscious of what is written therein; the eyes of Jesus will look right through them; memory comes alive with self-condemnation. All see where they crucified afresh the Lord of glory and put Him to an open shame. Too late, they understand their role at Calvary. What Jesus said will be literally fulfilled, "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge them in the last day."

The ages-long "great controversy between Christ and Satan" cannot be concluded until the lost freely, voluntarily confess the judgment and mercy of their final end. "Every knee shall bow" and confess, "Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints" (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 15:3).

This does not mean that the lost will become converted; far from it. Satan will indulge in one last wild temper tantrum against God, trying to capture the Holy City (Rev. 20:7-9). After their voluntary confession of God's justice, the wicked again join him, proving to the watching universe that they are hopelessly in rebellion against righteousness (vss. 7-15). Then at last the entire universe will be "at-one" in agape. Let's be at-one today!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive:

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Trade in Old Covenant Thinking for New Covenant Truth

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When we study about the New Covenant versus the Old Covenant, we often end up not being able to tell the difference--confusing the Old with the New or vice versa. We're worse off than when we started. There are only two Covenants and every individual in the world is "under" one or the other. They are as different as night and day, yet are often confused.

Those under the Old Covenant, no matter what their profession of religion might be, are in "bondage," says the Book of Galatians. Spiritually speaking, they are slaves (4:21-25). Their spiritual condition is identical to that of ancient Israel after Mount Sinai. They profess to be God's people, trying to keep His commandments; they think they worship Him, but their "Christian experience" is up and down, often down.

Ancient Israel were constantly backsliding, repenting, asking for forgiveness, trying again, enjoying only brief interludes of revival. Jesus describes the Old Covenant experience of His last days' church as being "lukewarm." He says the situation is so acute that it makes Him feel like throwing up (Rev. 3:14-19).

The only possible way that we in these last days can become fully reconciled and "hot" in our devotion to Him, is to trade in our Old Covenant way of thinking for New Covenant truth. It is embarrassing to Jesus to have to confess before the vast unfallen universe that He seems unable to bring His church out of its lukewarm condition. Surely the great sacrifice He made on His cross should elicit from His people on earth a greater devotion! The problem that Jesus has is like that of a bridegroom who loves a bride-to-be but can't motivate her to go to the altar with him and say "I do."

In fact, the Book of Revelation specifies that to be precisely the logjam that is holding up the finishing of God's great plan of salvation (19:1-8). Only a clear understanding of the glorious New Covenant can set us free from our lukewarm, half-hearted devotion. May the Holy Spirit make the truth clear!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 3, 2003-1.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Upsetting Our Assumptions

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

After more than two millennia, Jesus Christ continues to upset our assumptions and contradict them. We think that those who are always smiling are the happy ones, the self-esteemed, the purpose-driven saints, the always-on-top Christians, like corks that can't sink. He says, "Blessed [happy] are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3). Frankly, He sounds heretical!

Is something quiet and unobtrusive going on behind our backs--peopling the New Jerusalem with quiet, sober, even troubled people we haven't thought will get through?

Then Jesus drives the thorn in deeper: "Blessed [happy] are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (vs. 4). He even sounds like disappointment and pain and heartbreak are good experiences! How apparently backward can His thinking get?

He sounds like real lasting "comfort" can only follow being acquainted with grief first. The "mourning" He speaks of is not losing loved ones in death; it's heart-sorrow for the sin that the Holy Spirit has convicted us is buried deep in our hearts. As the "Son of David" Jesus reveled in the psalms of David, learning as we must learn. Obviously He had read 126:5, 6: "Those who wept as they planted their crops, gather[ed] the harvest with joy! Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed will come back singing for joy as they bring in the harvest" (Good News Bible). Could this have inspired His Beatitude?

Another of our popular assumptions He pricks like a balloon: "Blessed are the meek [not the "success-stories"]: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). The "meek" are those who always manage somehow to get trampled on, because they react to contingencies like the One who said He was "meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29) and ended up on a cross.

If you follow Him you get so you can't even exist another day unless you believe what He says. That's how "the just shall live by His faith" (Hab. 2:4).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 9, 2006.

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

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