Daily Bread: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Universal Problem

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It’s the universal problem: how do we TRANSMIT good desires into righteous character? The alcoholic hates himself because he got drunk again; the addict wishes he could be free again; the pornographer despises himself after he has indulged again; the glutton likewise. And the gossiper feels polluted after doing it again. “To will is present with me,” says Paul, echoing our universal cry of despair, “but how to perform that which is good I find not. ... The evil which I would not, that I do. ... When I would do good, evil is present with me” (Rom. 7:18, 19, 21). Peterson renders the same passage, “The power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, ... I don’t have what it takes. I can will it but I can’t do it. ... I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. ... Something has gone wrong deep within me. ... I’m at the end of my rope.” Transmission ended.

That’s Romans 7. Now we go on to Romans 8, which says that Christ is the answer. Of course, we’ve heard that for centuries! But look again—Paul presents Him in a different light than Christians have seen Him for centuries: Christ is not simply a clever lawyer who gets you out of scrape after scrape, paying your fines for you, substituting His righteousness to “cover” your on-going sins time after time. Verses 1-4 draw back the curtain that has hid the true Christ from view and show Him as the Son of God who became the Son of man in the truest sense. He took upon Himself the same sinful nature that we all inherited from Adam, wrestling with our same problem but conquering it in our own sinful nature. God sent “His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The point? He took upon Himself a SELF as we each have a self, and He denied that “self.” In other words, He took upon Himself a will of His own that was in conflict with His Father’s will, but He totally denied His own will—all the way to the cross whereon He was crucified (John 5:30; 6:38; Matt. 26:39).

Believe the truth about Christ, and then you share with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). Victory!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 26, 1998.

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Monday, July 29, 2013

The Problem of "Assurance"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Can any human being have assurance of personal, eternal salvation? The usual answer is "Yes," but people often overlook the sad reality that in the final judgment Jesus says "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, ... and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me" (Matt. 7:22, 23). Something extremely sad had gone wrong! They had been self-deceived, and their faith they thought was real turned out to be a counterfeit because it had not "worked" obedience to God's commandments.

So, how do we solve this problem of "assurance"? Just saying, "I feel good! That proves I have assurance of eternal salvation!" might prove to be tragically wrong. On the other hand, constant worrying and fear are not God's plan either. Some thoughts that may point to an answer:

(1) There is something that deserves our attention more important than our own personal salvation--the success of Christ in the great controversy with Satan. When our concern is caught up "with Him" in His work and His success, our self-centered worry and fear are gone.

(2) If you try to ground your "assurance" on your own faith, obedience, works, etc., it will leave you forever wondering if you have enough "faith," or "obedience," or "works." The focus of your interest and concern is still on self, no matter how you try to dress it up with pious terminology. The inevitable result is one of two things--either spiritual arrogance ("I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing!," Rev 3:17), or spiritual discouragement ("I wish I could be good enough to go to heaven!").

(3) Even if we mouth the right phrase and say, "My assurance is 'in Christ,'" our personal claim to be "in Him" is worthless if the evidence of being "in Christ" is lacking in the life. There is no conflict between "faith and works." True faith is demonstrated in works, and they must be seen in the Judgment Day, not to save us, but to prove that our faith is the genuine thing.

(4) Our real assurance is, therefore, what Christ accomplished for the human race. We were "justified by His blood" (Rom. 5:9) which was shed at the cross; He elected us to be saved eternally, "chose us," and wants "all men to be saved." You'll have to confess that if you are saved at last, your salvation will be due to God's initiative.

Now, are you resisting His will? Interposing a rebellious will against Him? Resisting the Holy Spirit's convictions of sin? Thank God for sending Jesus to die your second death, for saving your soul; and let His Spirit guide you in the paths of obedience. Stop worrying about yourself.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 7, 2000.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Is It a Sin to Be Afraid?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

This question probes deep into our souls: is it a sin to be afraid? "Through fear of death [we are] all [our] lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:15). There is a healthy fear, without which we would be fools. There is also a morbid fear that enslaves us. "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night," says the Psalm of comfort (91:5). God wants very much to deliver us from fear. Says Jesus, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). The "let not" means that our choice is involved. Fear may assail us but we can choose not to give in to it.

It all boils down to believing God's promises in His new covenant. And for those of us who are born and nurtured in unbelief (isn't that everybody, according to the Bible?), the only difficult thing is learning to overcome our natural-born unbelief. We're back to square one in learning John 3:16: "Whoever believes in Him should not [will not] perish."

And here is where the Savior of the world touches us. He too was tempted to indulge in unbelief--but wait a moment, He never gave in to it. Read the two psalms that weld our souls to Him as nothing else in the Bible does--Psalms 22 and 69. There we find closest fellowship with Jesus in His hour of feeling forsaken by His Father. Those two psalms probe deeply into how any human being can feel when suffering total despair. Jesus is "tasting death for every man" (Heb. 2:9). He is enduring the horror of hell. And in so doing He is "abolishing death" (2 Tim. 1:10; the second), and delivering us from the fear of it.

No way can we endure hell and triumph over it on our own; but we can corporately identify with Jesus while He endures it. We can sing with Paul, "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20). Our souls unite with Him "through faith" (Eph. 2:8). His cross becomes our cross and His glorious victory becomes ours. "Behold Him" on that cross; join Him there.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 20, 2002.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

You Don't Have to Build That Bridge!

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Is there anywhere a human heart that by nature doesn't have a storm inside? If you are perfectly at-one-with God, you belong in Heaven. Well, at least, it's your job to help those billions who by nature share the universal human problem of alienation from God. "Why has He allowed ME to suffer? Why ME ... to endure injustice? Is God fair?" One may piously exude all the self-righteous phrases while deep inside unanswered questions destroy our "peace with God" (Rom. 5:1). And it's not only teens who have that cauldron boiling inside; grey-hairs do, too.

Here's a shocker: the closer you come to Jesus Christ, the bigger you will realize your problem to be. Come veryclose to Him, and you will "taste" the depth of the darkness He experienced on His cross when He cried out, "My God, why hast Thou forsaken ME?" If one has never grown up out of innocent childhood, he may never think or feel on that level; but Jesus did. "Why doesn't God DO something?" is the heart-cry of the person who dares to think, not only about his own tiny little problems, but about the millions suffering from disasters and wars. And why do the poor have to suffer? And why must the innocent suffer so? "My God, My God, why have You forsaken our world?"

Back again to the cross on Calvary: in that total darkness, while He hung there in that deepest perplexity and despair, He made a choice--to believe that His Father was good even though everything was shouting in His ears that His Father was unjust. In total darkness, in the vastness of empty heart-broken space, He built a great bridge between alienated humanity and God. It's called the Atonement, the at-one-ment. If His Father has forsaken Him, He will not forsake His Father.

On His cross He built something out of nothing like He had created a universe out of nothing. At any cost, He will believe Good News. He will create Good News. You don't have to build that Bridge; all you have to do is believe that He built it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 15, 1998.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Do Youth Know Their True Identity?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How much does God care about you as an individual person? How important are you to Him? The biggest problem that children and youth have today is that they don't know who they are. Oh yes, they know their names that their parents gave them, but they don't know their true identity, they don't sense their own self-worth as individuals, which is the root cause of most crime and degradation, including teenage promiscuity and pregnancies that later produce a replay of the same tragic consequences, generation after generation.

When you were born as a baby, your mother probably counted everything she could see--you had both eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, and yes, she probably counted the toes on each one to be sure you were "normal." She paid attention to you; you were important in her eyes. But as you grew older, you began to realize that she could not follow you around all your life, re-counting your fingers and your toes; you were on your own. That's when you began to have problems, unless you had learned somehow to believe that you have a heavenly Father who cares for you infinitely more than your father and your mother ever could.

One thing your mother never counted on you--how many hairs were on your head. Even though she cared for you she never cared that much. But Jesus makes a fantastic statement that must not be brushed off as mere exaggeration: He says in Matthew 10:29, 30 that your heavenly Father has counted all the hairs on your head! And you must not disbelieve it--Jesus says it; it has to be so. The important point is not the actual arithmetical total (it would do you no good to know), but it's Jesus' way of saying what David said in Psalm 139:17, 18, "How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand."

Now, what will you do with this? Believe it, or disbelieve it? Your happiness here and maybe forever, depends on which way you choose.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 24, 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.

Monday, July 22, 2013

The Greatest Temptation Jesus Had to Face

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What do you suppose was the greatest temptation Jesus had to face? You know of course He was tempted--the Bible says "in all points like as we are." His temptations were real--they bored in to His inmost soul. Well, the greatest temptation He had to face was the temptation to doubt who He was. And if the truth were known, that's the greatest temptation you have to face also--to doubt who you are.

For example, think back to Jesus' temptation in the wilderness after His baptism. Three times the wily old enemy, Satan, zeroed in on Him at the deepest core of His being--"if Thou be the Son of God," command these stones to be bread; "if Thou be the Son of God," do a hang-glide from the top of the temple tower; "if Thou be the Son of God," claim the empires of the world as Yours and I'll give them to You, for they are mine, the devil said; just play ball with me, be reasonable, let's cooperate.

Do you think that was a temptation? "If You are who You think You are"--You have delusions of grandeur like a mental patient who thinks he is Napoleon. Yes, Jesus gained a victory then, but remember that the enemy came back again and again on this point of doubting His real identity as the Son of God.

Finally at the very end, something happened that helped to crystallize it all in Jesus' mind and heart when Mary washed His feet with tears. He realized that He was the only person in all of world history to be so honored; no one, not even Alexander the Great, had ever had his feet washed with human tears. Yes, Jesus realized, He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. Now He was ready for John 13.

At that last supper, He got up, stretched Himself to His full height, laid aside His robe, and knowing fully that He had come from God and went to God, He humbled Himself to wash His disciples' feet. He could not have done that until He had known for sure, and felt for sure, who He was. He could never have faced the cross until He had that assurance; and even on the cross that last temptation was flung at Him--"if Thou be the Son of God come down from the cross"!

Who are you? Do you know? You cannot be truly humble until you realize your true identity in Christ, redeemed by His blood.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 12, 1997.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Hang on to the Truth

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What do you do if you are young and you have found something in the Bible that you know is true as surely as you know 2 + 2 = 4, but the older Christians say you're wrong? Then, with your whole heart you believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, you believe the Bible as His holy word, you are a student in high school, and the teachers and the students belittle you for your faith which they describe as superstition; can you stand alone against this phalanx of opposition?

Luther, a young monk, discovered as surely as 2 + 2 = 4 that justification is by faith alone, not by works; he had to stand virtually alone against the hierarchy of his powerful church. It was rough going; they threatened to kill him. Did the Lord Jesus forsake him? The Lord upheld him.

Many young people have been opposed by the elders: Joseph cruelly opposed by older brothers and even misunderstood by his saintly father. Rough going for a lad.

Moses, legally "the son of Pharaoh's daughter" had an obligation to the hierarchy of the world's greatest empire of the day, a youth who knew 2 + 2 = 4 theologically. Up against terrific pressure. Was loyal to Christ.

David was accused of treason against the divinely appointed government of the nation. If ever there was a youth opposed by his "church," it was David fleeing to the wilderness from King Saul, the old man who was most certainly "the anointed of the Lord." David was walking a tight rope over Niagara Falls. The least misstep, and he was ruined (and yes, he did cross the line into sinful unbelief on one occasion; He came within a hair's breadth of ruin).

There was young Jeremiah forced to withstand the royalty of the Kingdom of Judah. Forced to an entire lifetime under the condemnation of his people, died under that cloud.

A young Church of Scotland pastor, McCleod Campbell, believed 2 + 2 = 4 theologically, was defrocked by his presbytery, and only late in life rehabilitated.

In more modern times a young minister only 33 had a conscience that bound him to 2 + 2 = 4 theologically, had to stand against the grey-haired men of his church leadership. Almost to a man they opposed him, condemned him as a mere "fledgling" (a bird hardly ready to fly). History vindicated young Joseph, Moses, David, and also Jeremiah (after his death). This particular young man is long gone to his rest, but his history remains still under a cloud of disapprobation.

But the Bible says that God is the Author of 2 + 2 = 4 truth; he is called "the LORD God of truth" (Psalm 31:5). Whoever you are, if you stand alone, hang on to "truth as it is in Jesus." Trust Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 18, 2003.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Good News Alternative to Mark of the Beast

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Almost all Christian churches are talking about the second coming of Christ, and the possibility of the imminent end of the world. Yes, it does make good sense to talk about preparing for such an event!

There are many pastors and theologians who tell us that there is no special preparation--just live a good life and do the best you can and you'll be ready either to die or to meet Jesus and be translated when He comes. But even a child can see that there is something special involved: there is a final exam coming, a great test that Revelation 13 says is "the mark of the beast" that in one final issue will divide the sheep from the goats forever. The "mark of the beast" will involve "great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:24).

Never in history have God's people met such a test! Jesus said, "Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake and then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another" (vss. 9, 10). In other words, many who now profess to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will then turn traitor and accept the mark of the beast. And Paul sobers us even more when he warns us, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). Peter was cocksure he would never "fall," but a girl in or barely out of her teens overthrew him.

The Good News is that there is an alternative to the mark of the beast: the seal of God (Rev. 7:1-4). That involves a special work of purification of the heart: "When [Christ] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2, 3). On this great cosmic Day of Atonement, that precisely is the work of the great High Priest. Don't stop Him, don't resist Him. Cooperate with Him!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 15, 1999.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Spiritual Food for the Soul

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Like everybody else in the world, you and I have to eat food every day in order to survive physically. It takes time to do this, and also some effort to dig the food from the ground or pick it from vines or trees. No one has successfully made a pill or capsule to take, in place of eating food itself.

Likewise, our souls need spiritual food if we are to survive spiritually. Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6). A good appetite is a marvelous "blessing," to be able to feel hungry and thirsty--what delight, to sit down then to a good square meal!

But a sick person feels no such appetite. I remember once when I was severely ill, ordinarily delicious mashed potatoes and gravy tasted like sawdust with engine oil poured on them. I had to be healed before I could enjoy food again. If you are not hungry for spiritual food from the Bible itself, if you prefer reading light religious novels, you are feasting on cotton candy instead of whole-wheat bread. And spiritual weakness or even paralysis will be the sure result.

If you do feel hungry, rejoice; come and eat. If you are sensitive enough and honest enough to realize that you don't have an appetite, that you are actually starving spiritually, then get on your knees, humble your heart before the God of heaven, and beg Him to give you an appetite. Be sincere and straightforward enough to let Him do it. Get serious. Stay on your knees and "listen" for His "voice."

If Jesus were to invite you to dinner and set an empty plate before you with a knife and fork, say "Thank You!" immediately. Likewise, even though your Bible seems as dull and unpromising as an empty plate at dinner time, tell the Lord "Thank You," and believe that He is faithful to keep His promise and give you some delicious "bread of life." He Himself has promised He will not give you a stone! (Matt. 7:7-11).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 5, 1998.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Divine One Closest to Us

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We thank the dear Lord for inspiring His apostle to write for us that precious Book of Hebrews. No other book in the Bible so clearly reveals Jesus Christ for us as our “Brother” in human flesh--the divine One closest to us, “sticking closer” to us than even the best of our human brothers: “There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). Jesus is that Friend.

That’s the One that Hebrews describes:

(1) You must know how close He is. It’s a heavenly “family” that Ephesians says you have already been “adopted” into (1:3-7).

(2) If your lonely heart cries out “Father!” Heaven looks upon you as already adopted into the Family (see Rom. 8:14-17). He respects your heart-choice. I can’t begin to describe what it means to be an “heir of God and joint-heir with Christ.” But that’s what you are by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice, the One who “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13, 14). He did all this before we could say yes or no; it was already true before we were born, but He can’t force Himself on us: He did the giving of Himself, but He also gave us the freedom of choice--we can refuse the adoption. Don’t refuse it!

(3) An “heir of God and joint-heir with Christ”? Those are holy words; we pause as we write them. Even the highest angels are not so honored or blessed!

(4) The angels must stand back with their hands folded as you march past them on your way to the Great White Throne where high above it stands the cross of Christ where you were “adopted” (cf. Rev. 20:11, 12). The angels can’t come as close as you!

(5) The love of God (agape) is what God says He is (1 John 4:8); it is high and holy, divine; it has to be “perfect” for “God is agape,” but John also says an almost unbelievable truth: that agape is “perfected in us”--in us who are weak and sinful (vs. 12). Ten thousand angels playing their harps and singing praise to God do not bring Him as much honor as does one lowly, hopeless, selfish sinner who opens his heart and permits that agape to transform him into the likeness of Christ in character. God is agape but the circuit is completed in you and me.

(6) You will enter the New Jerusalem not as a convict barely forgiven but as someone highly honored, “in Christ”!

Say “yes!” to Him today.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 20, 2008.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Cooperating With the Holy Spirit

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

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

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

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

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

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

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 10, 2002.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

The Truth About the Cross

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The man had been a bachelor until late in life; then he met the woman of his dreams. She responded and the two seemed as happy as twenty-year-olds. They were married in a civil ceremony.

Then she came down with cancer. C. S. Lewis was devastated; but then some good news--the cancer went into remission and once again they felt they had discovered Paradise. Now they were married by a Church of England priest. It seemed that God smiled on them; but again the cancer returned and Joy died.

Says one author: "Lewis experienced a devastating sense of distance from God, ... 'the dark night of the soul.' Lewis wrote: 'But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double-bolting on the inside. After that, silence.' ... The danger was not that Lewis would become an atheist. Instead, he wrote: 'The real danger is coming to believe such dreadful things about Him'" (Art Lindsley, C. S. Lewis's Case for Christ, pp. 60, 61).

Before you condemn Lewis, take a good honest look at our own Judeo-Christian Bible: numerous of our Psalms express the same desperate feelings (88, 22, 69, for example; and of course Job). The greatest Psalmist of all eternity once cried out, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46). What Lewis could not understand was that Christ endured that soul agony so that we might never have to endure it; but his soul was darkened by the belief he had inherited of the immortality of the soul. That doctrine derived from ancient paganism but taught in the Christian church had darkened his view of the cross of Christ. Hundreds of millions now suffer likewise.

God has called a people to tell the truth about the cross, what happened there. It's what Malachi says "Elijah" will proclaim to our darkened world--reconciliation of soul with God and with one another (4:5, 6).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 28, 2006.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Promise of the "Comforter"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

"Our Father which art in heaven ..." are the words Jesus told us to say when we kneel to pray. An infinite Father with billions of people to care for, He gives personal attention to each of us. And that's what we must believe.

He gives personal love to each of us. He loves the man of whom He says "it is not good that [he] be alone" who does not have "an help meet for him" to share his loneliness (Gen. 2:18; the GNB says, "It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him"). When Jesus had to go away He sent the Gift of the Holy Spirit to be the constant Companion of anyone who appreciates the One who is called to sit down beside us and never leave us (John 14:16, 17). He permits all earthly support to go away so that we may learn to appreciate that He keeps His promise not to forsake us. (When some men become widowers they learn that.)

To the grieving widow who senses that her loneliness is peril-frought, He says: "Your Creator will be like a husband to you--the LORD Almighty is His name" (Isa. 54:5, GNB). All these many ministries are in that word "Father!"

It's on purpose that so much of the Bible is taken up with our personal problem of fear, of alone-ness, of inadequacy. "Where could I go to escape from You, ... away from Your [loving] presence? ... Even the darkness is not dark for You, and the night is as bright as the day" (Psalm 139:7-12, GNB).

When He promised to send you the "Comforter" He is faithful; don't think you must endlessly beg Him to do what He promised, for that implies that you doubt His fidelity. Thank Him that He has kept the promise! You don't want to keep saying "Father!" in tones of unbelief. Stay on your knees until you see what you would be like if He had indeed forsaken you! Then thank Him for saving you from hell itself!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 23, 2006.

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/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to:dailybread@1888message.org
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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, July 09, 2013

Now's the Time to Pray the Lord's Prayer

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Suppose you don't know what to do, you don't even know how to pray. You can kneel, but you don't know what words to use.

Now's the time to pray the Lord's Prayer. It's just inside the New Testament. Put it into the first person singular:

"My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matt. 6:9; Jesus said, "In this manner, ... pray." No matter who you are, or how unworthy you are, you are given the right to walk in past all the holy angels to the throne of God with these words). Save me from bringing disgrace on Your name.

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (vs. 10; let me do or say something today that is right).

"Give me this day my daily bread" (vs. 11; and the inexpressible joy of being satisfied with what my portion is of either the temporal or spiritual kind. Thank You for my portion!)

"And forgive me my debts," (vs. 12a; that is--my sins). This credit card debt is a constant load I can't carry; oh, to breathe free again! Please teach me to say no next time I'm tempted to sin; and yes, to say no to self all day.

"As I forgive my debtors" (vs. 12b; that means I practice self-denial until I pay my credit card balance; at the same time I pay my debt of forgiveness to those who have wronged me personally and painfully. It hurts, but yes, I do).

"And do not lead me into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one" (vs. 13a; any temptation to any sin is greater than I have the strength to endure, of myself. Thanks that at last I know the truth).

"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (vs. 13b; thanks that at last I realize it's not mine).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 4, 2006.

Monday, July 08, 2013

No Prayer That Heaven Is More Eager to Answer

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Two thousand years ago God's people were expecting their long-awaited Messiah to appear. But when He came as a Baby in Bethlehem, they did not recognize Him, and the leaders of the true church of that day led the people to murder Him.

Now God's people are expecting a great blessing to come from heaven, that is, the long-promised "latter rain," the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will "lighten the earth with glory" (Rev. 18:1-4). It will be a message that will prepare God's people for the second coming of Jesus.

Not everyone on earth will be converted for many will reject the message, as many rejected Jesus long ago; but the message will seek out honest hearts everywhere who will respond. The Lord will be honored. Some will come from places that will seem unlikely to those who have been in the way a long time; the message of the "everlasting gospel" will be presented so clearly and powerfully that Christ will be uplifted as the crucified Son of God. He not only died for the world in a vague corporate sense but He also died for each individual soul. And each who permits his heart to be moved by the "love of Christ [that] constrains us" (2 Cor. 5:14, 15) will be sanctified by the message that will be finally full-blown.

The watching universe will be amazed at the transformations that the pure, true gospel will accomplish, as Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). But Satan's cleverness has confused "the truth of the gospel" even as "certain men [who] came from James" (the early leader of the church in Paul's day) confused even Peter and Barnabas (Gal. 2:6, 12-14). The story of that stumbling on the part of the early leaders of the church is not well known (cf. Gal. 2:1-13). Paul was right! And his Book of Romans is "the clearest gospel of all."

This often neglected story of human fallibility encourages us to study "the truth of the gospel" (vss. 5, 14) directly for ourselves. Even in modern times, sincere, converted leaders can err and can mislead people, even the "faithful" such as Barnabas long ago. There is no prayer that Heaven is more eager to answer than the prayer of an honest heart who wants to understand truth! The Lord would rather empty heaven of angels, sending them all down here to help one soul, rather than allow that soul to become misled.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 28, 2007.