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 are an endless catalog of evil that always end in misery.
But Paul dares to tell us in Galatians that if we have chosen to give ourselves to Christ and to "walk in 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. "You do not do the [evil] things that you wish" (Gal. 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." "Your insight and understanding will protect you and prevent you from doing the wrong thing" (Prov. 3:21-26; 2:11, 12, Good News Bible). Same as Paul's Good News!
When life is over, you will take not a speck 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, says the Lord" (Isa. 54:17).
Believe that today, and your heart will overflow with gratitude. You'll have heaven on earth.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 18, 2006.
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