Daily Bread: October 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

Controversy Over What the Gospel Means

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Going back in history almost all the way to Pentecost, history tells how the true believers in Jesus wrestled with controversy in their midst over what the gospel means. The controversy erupted before the first general conference of the church was called in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:6ff).

There were aberrant views advanced by "certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed" (vs. 5). These were not apostates; this was not the beginning of the great "falling away" Paul predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. These were faithful, honest people who did not fully understand at that time "the truth of the gospel" (cf. Gal. 2:5, 14). Their zeal for the law was confused. The faithful and true leadership of the church had to humble their souls and declare that "some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling [subverting, KJV] your souls (Acts 15:24). The error threatened to become a lethal heresy, but thank God, was healed at the beginning by prompt action for the right.

The fact that these wrong ideas were promulgated by people endorsed by the one true church leadership required rectification; thank God that at that time church leadership was ready to make the wrong right. The acknowledged leader of the general conference of Acts 15 humbled himself, confessed the truth, and gave the world church of the day a solid and bold leadership in the right because he submitted to self being crucified with Christ. The fact that he had to admit being confused did not lessen the confidence the people placed in him, but resulted in strengthening the church.

But that was not the end of the problem. The controversy erupted again in a meeting years later. Paul relates what happened: "When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face ... [and] the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. ... When I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I ... [rebuked] Peter before them all" (Gal. 2:11-14, KJV).

Paul was not one of the original Twelve, but he was "a chosen vessel" of the Lord.

Are there "dissimulations" and "dissemblings" in the true church today? The judgment is soon to be completed; it's too late for any of us to be confused. There will be 144,000 on the right side. Let's walk softly before the Lord and "take time to be holy," to study, to understand "the truth of the gospel."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 4, 2007.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Towering Truth of the Bible

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are some who seem to have a good time all the time, always upbeat and cheerful. They are the ones that Solomon described when he said, "He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast" (Prov. 15:15). Life is an endless picnic for them. Like King Midas of old, everything they touch seems to turn to gold, every day is like fun at Disneyland.

Just let them "Remember now [their] Creator in the days of [their] youth," the One who has given them their picnic (Eccl. 12:1). Their Creator is the same One as their Savior who says of us all, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). There's where your picnic has come from.

The towering truth of the Bible proclaims that our common life is the purchase of the death of the Son of God; "the Lord [the Father] has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." No one could have his picnic unless the Son of God had borne a corresponding weight of grief; "He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; ... He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:4-6). There is a divine, universal balance sheet; every laugh, every smile, has been purchased for the world's billions by the self-sacrifice of the One who went to hell that we might enjoy our heaven.

One thoughtful person awoke to this realization and declared with enthusiasm that every loaf of bread is stamped with the cross of Christ; never one, saint or sinner, eats his daily food, but he partakes anew of the Lord's Supper--often doing what Paul says never do--"whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27). Our common luncheon table is "the table of the Lord"! We've been just too blind to realize what life is all about.

When someone does something wonderful for us, we say "Thank you." There is an appropriate reciprocal consecration: Christ has consecrated Himself for us so we can live; now it is appropriate that we consecrate ourselves, this life He has given us, to His service--the motivation being a response to His love.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 31, 2007.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Another Opportunity to Listen and Repent

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When we have done or said something bad, the Father doesn't stop us in public and berate us, or physically punish us! Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for the world (not just offered us! but gave us!), the Father is free to treat "every man" as though he has not sinned! What a blessing!

Why is that?

In order to keep the universe free and balanced, every sin must be compensated for by punishment. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). But the Son of God chose to become one of us, to take upon Himself our fallen sinful nature, and to accept Himself the full punishment for every one of our sins.

The first Adam sinned in Eden and then passed on to all of us a sinful nature with a judicial sentence of punishment. But note, that is only a "judicial sentence of condemnation"; if the actual condemnation itself were passed on to us, none of us could live even a day.

What the Lord Jesus has given the world is another probation, another opportunity to listen and to repent. If the Holy Spirit reminds you that your time of probation may be nearing its end, be thankful and listen.

We hear often how sudden death has struck this one or that one. King Ahab is an example of what we can do. The record says of his end: "The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? …'" The wicked king received mercy from the Lord's abundant supply of grace (read 1 Kings 21:28, 29).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 23, 2008.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

An Often Neglected Story of Human Fallibility

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.

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 corporate sense but He also died for each individual soul. And each soul 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 finally be 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. 2:5, 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) for ourselves. Even today, sincere, converted leaders can err and 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, than allow that soul to become misled.

--Robert J. Wieland

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

Saturday, October 18, 2014

The Path of Duty That Led to the Cross

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever been confused or distraught, not knowing which way to go? You wish that the Lord would just tell you what to do, where to go.

Young people often feel this way when they graduate from high school or college. Sometimes pastors have more than one invitation to be a church worker here or there, and they don’t know which "call" to accept. And there is the problem of whom to marry? You wish the dear Lord would bring Rebekeh to you as He brought her to Isaac long ago (Genesis 24). (Or bring Isaac to you!)

If the Lord had a question and answer column in the newspapers we would all become robots, never having to think for ourselves, and we would miss out on one of the divine attributes the Lord wants to impart to us. But we are not robots powered by batteries; we are sons and daughters of the living God, learning to become like Him in character. For this purpose we need freedom of will, and that requires clear thinking.

There are clear-cut principles we can rely on. Just praying by itself is not good enough; we must learn how to understand the answers to prayer that the Lord gives us. He always answers; He will give you a distinct conviction of what you ought to do. But how can you know if the conviction is true? Of the choices before you, which one is most pleasing to self, and most inclined to be running away from duty the Lord lays on you? You can be quite sure He would lead you in a path of service. Friends who know you and know the Lord can give you wise counsel.

Jonah was pondering a choice of careers: go to Tarshish, or go to Nineveh? He turned from the path of duty under God. Here’s a very fine prayer to pray for guidance: "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day" (Psalm 25:4, 5).

But if you want an answer, it helps to become committed. And if you want to learn how to be committed, it helps to "behold" Christ’s path of duty that led Him to His cross.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 28, 2004.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Trials That Establish One “In the Faith”

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A fundamental question we must settle is whether God is just, and whether He is good. We read in Hebrews 6:10 that "God is not unjust," meaning that He is indeed just. And we read in Psalm 103 that He is like a father who pities His children, that He is merciful and gracious (vss. 13, 8).

Believing who He is must be settled in our hearts, for he who comes to God must believe two things: (1) that He is, that He exists, and (2) that He rewards those who diligently pursue knowing Him (Heb. 11:6).

Jesus likened God to a father who gives his children food when they are hungry. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?" (Luke 11:11). Then He went on to explain that our heavenly Father is more kind than any earthly father.

That being true, then we must conclude that He is not trying to make it difficult for people to have eternal life in His kingdom. He does not send difficulties and disappointments in order to try to break our confidence in Him, but because we are living in the midst of a great controversy between Christ and Satan, we have to meet trials that inevitably test our faith. The only way to avoid them would be to go to the grave.

Even Jesus, God's only begotten, beloved Son was forced to meet severe trials, the greatest of which was the experience of feeling forsaken of God while He hung on His cross in the darkness. Meeting strange and bitter trials is not inconsistent with knowing that the Father loves you as He loves His own Son; there may be even a more understandable realization of God's love in the midst of trials.

When every other voice is stilled and you are alone before God wrestling with your trials, your soul may sense the nearness and tender love of Christ more keenly. Peter says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings" (1 Peter 4:12, 13).

There is a term seldom heard today, "Christian experience." It encompasses the breadth of one's first-hand knowledge of God experienced in sunshine and shadow, trials borne which establish one "in the faith." It's a precious acquirement! It's something no one can take from you, not even Satan. Ask God to give it to you; but remember, He can't do so except through giving you "experience" itself.

When the "144,000" sing "a new song before the throne" they will not be reading notes in hymnbooks; John says they "learn that song" (Rev. 14:1-3). How? By experience!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 19, 2000.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Good News of the New Covenant

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Our Father in heaven, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has a way of speaking to the world. He knows how to get the world's attention. And He will when the time comes.

We read how in this special "time of the end" He sends three angels ("messengers sent") with three special messages for "every nation, tribe, tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6-12). Their task is to prepare His people everywhere to be ready to meet the once-crucified Savior of the world when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. The message of the "third angel" is augmented by that of a fourth of 18:1-4, whose message "lightens" the whole earth "with ... glory." It's a message of His "much more abounding grace" (Rom. 5:20).

The story of the Two Covenants is interwoven with what happens in the Middle East. Abraham himself was entangled in the confusion between the two. He is claimed as "father" by Jews, Muslims, and Christians, but the Two Covenants are viewed differently by them all. Abraham's own story of unbelief (before his subsequent experience of faith) has spawned the bloody conflicts of his descendants.

God intends that the world itself shall have a lesson on the Two Covenants, and before the end He will see to it that His four "angels" whom He sends (Rev. 14, 18) shall proclaim His message faithfully. There will be great humbling of hearts before God on the part of all who remain faithful to the end.

The message that will "lighten" the earth with "glory" will be the revelation of the good news of the New Covenant. It will be a message of "Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:1-3), and He will be "lifted up" for all the world to see Him clearly (John 12:32). The world's greatest days are just ahead. Don't leave your refuge "in Him" (Psalm 91:1-16).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 21, 2005.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Why the Lord Permits Desperate Experiences

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are times when everything has seemed to go wrong, and deep, dark disappointment overwhelms us. The temptation is fierce--for us to think that the Lord has forsaken us. But He has promised solemnly, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).

The Father withdrew His beams of light from His only Son while He hung on His cross. Jesus screamed in agony, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46). The Father never truly forsook His only Son, but He was forced to permit Jesus to feel totally forsaken, so that we should never have to feel that way!

To feel totally forsaken by the Lord is a terrible experience; and for one to believe it would be a sin, for He has promised never to "leave us nor forsake us." Yes, to disbelieve what the Lord has promised would be a sin, which we would want to repent of immediately.

To be tempted is not itself sin; thus, it is not a sin to feel forsaken by the Lord. The sin comes when we believe Satan's lie to disbelieve what God has promised. What Satan wants is to break our hold on the Lord and thus to separate our souls from Him. Satan wants to drag us out into the cold dark emptiness of hell--which is eternal forsakenness by the Lord.

Jesus has saved us from that--forever. Now make your heart choice to believe that truth; pray with the distraught father in Mark 9, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (vs. 24). You can never perish while you cling to that desperate prayer.

Why does the Lord permit you to go through this desperate experience? So you can from now on work side by side with Him to help other people who are so tempted. There are many! AndHe needs you to work with Him! The only "voice" He has is your voice; the only "hands" He has are yours.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 18, 2008.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Our High Priest--Drench Yourself in His Story

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Bible Book of Hebrews is often thought to be over our heads, but actually it's good bedtime reading. The Lord wants us to receive a blessing from reading it. The important Figure in the book is someone named Melchizedek, a Priest appointed by the Lord to be ourHigh Priest.

First of all we ask, what is a "High Priest"? He is the spiritual father of the nation of Israel. Everyone looks upon him as a friend; as someone on your side. He is a wise counselor, and he does not hesitate to tell you the full truth about yourself, because only the truth can make you free (John 8:32).

The Father has appointed Jesus to be our High Priest; but in order for even Him to become qualified, He must suffer as we suffer. That "suffering" must include His being tempted to sin, even as we are tempted, but must include also His gaining the victory over every temptation to sin: "we have 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. 4:15).

Thus He "can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that He Himself also is compassed with infirmity" (5:1, 2).

It is clear therefore that in becoming one of us in His incarnation, the Son of God "took" upon His sinless nature which He brought with Him from heaven, our fallen, sinful nature which He assumed here on earth.

So fully did Jesus become as one of us yet without sin that when He prayed He had to "offer up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, ... and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all that that obey Him [hear Him]" (5:7-9).

Read about Him; drench yourself in His story.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 31, 2008.

[Emphasis supplied in Bible texts.]

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Let's Take Our Stand--Today!

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Young David, in relation to King Saul (who hated him and wanted to kill him), was loyal to the government of Israel, but that does not mean that the government of Israel needed a "king" other than the Lord Himself. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul to be the king not because that was God's will for Israel, but because the people wanted to be like the surrounding nations, and He let them have what they wanted.

The lesson we need to learn from this history is the importance of loyalty to the organized church that the Lord in His infinite wisdom has raised up.

The prophecy of Revelation 12:17 is clear: the Lord has a "remnant" church which He sustains in a world of apostasy and "Babylon" devotion. The witness is given. And 18:1-4 tells of a message that will swell to a loud cry that will "lighten the earth with glory." The call to "come out of Babylon" will sound so clearly and powerfully that multitudes who have been held back by family, friends, or even jobs, will respond:

"The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the [Holy] Spirit of God. ... Many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord's side" (The Great Controversy, p. 612).

That time has not yet come; we are still living this side of it. The second coming of Jesus is the next great event for planet earth; but just before His return, this message must go to all the world for it would not be fair for Jesus to come in glory and power unless every soul on earth has been given the full opportunity to see the truth and to choose to be loyal to it.

Let's not wait until then to take our stand! Let's do so today!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 14, 2008.

Monday, October 06, 2014

A Severe Test for Young David

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The story of David and King Saul in the Bible is an encouragement to all who feel themselves unjustly opposed or even persecuted for their conscientious beliefs they hold in all honesty, but who find themselves opposed.

David was loyal to the principles of "church organization" in that he knew that Israel as a nation must have a government, and (in those days) a government must have a king. He knew that the prophet Samuel had anointed Saul to be Israel's king, apparently with the approval and guidance of the Lord. David humbled himself to believe this even though King Saul wanted to murder him! "Saul became David's enemy continually" (1 Sam. 18:29).

It was a very severe test for young David, who was either still in his teens or just out. But David humbled himself to what he knew was Reality. He is a perfect example for those who today feel persecuted by supposed "servants of God."

On one occasion David as a fugitive happened to be hiding in a cave when who should come in to "attend to his needs," but the great King Saul himself! David's friends who were hiding with him back in the shadows urged him to seize this opportunity that God had apparently given him, and kill his enemy; but David refused to lift his hand against "the Lord's anointed" (1 Sam 24:1-6). So loyal was David to the principles of "church organization"!

Those who face unjust opposition and even persecution in seeking to do what God says, will not be forsaken by the Lord. He will permit them to be tried, even severely so, for the Lord permitted David to have every excuse to believe that the Lord would indeed forsake him; but David held on to his faith in the Lord.

Here is the Lord's solemn promise to those who serve Him faithfully today, even in the face of severe opposition and persecution: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 13, 2008.

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Saturday, October 04, 2014

Multitudes Will "See a Great Light"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Hebrews Chapter 1 is devoted to honoring and praising Christ as the divine Son of God. And not only because of His high position and His infinite power, but because of what and who He is: He IS agape, a new and different kind of love that the great unfallen universe had never before seen demonstrated.

The great rebel, Satan, had arisen with his new invention of sin; Satan challenged God for the right to rule the universe. One third of all the holy angels chose to renounce their holiness and join the Devil, Satan, in his rebellion against God (Rev. 12:7-9).

The Father entrusted to His Son Jesus the task of conquering this great rebellion. In order to win this gigantic battle, Jesus must humble Himself and become one of us, because this terrible thing called "sin" had taken up abode in human flesh. It was sin's last lair--and that was where the Son of God must come to meet the problem and conquer sin (those who want to insist that Jesus took only sinless human nature in His incarnation have not considered this necessity).

The battle Jesus fought was gigantic; He must become one of us and crush and defeat sin in our sinful human flesh. Has Jesus saved the world? The Father sent Him down here to do just that, and the Samaritans confessed that He is "the Savior of the world" (John 4:42). They were right; that's what He is.

But most of the world's humanity do not yet recognize Him, and may never do so. However, there is something wonderful yet to come: the light of that great "another angel" of Revelation 18:1-4 must lighten the earth with glory, when multitudes who now sit in darkness will awaken and "see a great light" (cf. Isa. 9:2). This will be New Covenant truth!

--Robert J. Wieland

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

Thursday, October 02, 2014

Some Big IFs About Jesus' Return

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

IF it is true that the dead are asleep until the resurrection (the Bible teaches it crystal clear), and IF it is also true that the resurrection cannot take place until Jesus Christ returns (He alone is the Resurrection and the Life! John 11:25), then common sense tells us that the judgment must take place before He returns.

Otherwise, how could any meaningful decision be made as to who should be resurrected glorified when He comes? Jesus seems to say it clearly: "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work" (Rev. 22:12).

He also says in Luke 21:34, 35 that "that Day" (of judgment) may come upon us "as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth." The "all those" will be the last generation on earth, the billions of people who "are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord," who will not die until they see Him coming in the clouds of heaven--happy or sad (1 Thess. 4:15; 2 Thess. 1:7, 8).

The next big IF is whether Jesus is coming soon. He gave us "signs" to let us know when "it is near, at the very doors" (Mark 13:29). Read the newspapers, news magazines, Internet--look around you. It's clear: the end is near.

The only conclusion possible: "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning--lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping" (vss. 35, 36). That coming is when He "comes" on our individual final judgment, and on a church's final judgment, too. Rather solemn, it even sounds scary. But hang on to some Good News: that "Master" is more concerned than we are that we be saved! That's how much He loves us.

But what to do? Stop resisting His grace. "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5). He will prove His love to you by telling you what to do; prayerfully, on your knees!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 28, 1998.