Dial Daily Bread: Yom Kippur and the "Cosmic" Day of Atonement

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

"What is Jesus doing now?" is a question many believers in Him ask. Since He is the Son of God who suffered unspeakable agony on this planet when He was crucified, it seems only fair that He is entitled to a long "vacation" after such a terrible ordeal. He did His duty heroically; now He can rest, and enjoy the plaudits of the heavenly hosts, and the praise of at least some of earth's inhabitants.

But the Book of Hebrews does not reveal Him as taking an extended rest; He is working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year "continually" as our great High Priest--a full-time job for the infinite Son of God. And the Holy Spirit is ministering constantly to millions and billions of human beings who long for salvation. If the Queen of England or the president of the United States deserve a full-time physician on duty, Christ as infinite High Priest is the full-time Physician of our souls on duty to minister to every one who has faith in Him, giving His full attention as though there were not another "patient."

Hebrews zeroes in on the two-phase ministry of that heavenly High Priest as symbolized by the two apartments in the earthly sanctuary prototype (Heb. 9:1-14). As there was an annual "day of atonement" (Yom Kippur) in the "earthly" Hebrew sanctuary, so there must be a cosmic or antitypical Day of Atonement in the heavenly sanctuary. The ancient Yom Kippur symbolized the removal of all the sins of Israel from the sanctuary where they had been recorded, and their expulsion as so much trash. Each earthly day of atonement resulted in a full or complete "atonement" for Israel, all sins blotted out and a total reconciliation with God, the scapegoat symbolizing Satan forever banished from the camp of Israel.

Since the heavenly high priestly ministry is the grand antitype, what is the difference between Christ's first-apartment ministry and His second-apartment ministry? Hebrews 9 makes it clear: "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (vs. 27). This gives us a glimpse into His first-apartment ministry--preparing people to die, ready for "the judgment." This has been His ministry in most of the nearly 2000 years since His sacrifice.

But "to those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (vs. 28). His cosmic Day of Atonement ministry is concentrated on preparing a people for translation at His second coming. But what about those who die during this time? In the ancient service, the first-apartment ministry continued through the final day of atonement; so it is today. We must not forget or frustrate Christ's primary goal for today!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 24, 2000.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Lord Doesn’t Play Hide-and-Seek With You

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Just as one can get lost at sea and not know where he is or where to get help, so one can get lost spiritually. You can even forget the Bible verses you learned as a youth; you can forget how to pray; you can't even read the Bible. You are lost. You are bobbing alone in a wide spiritual ocean; despair begins to set in.

Sometimes an evil spirit can take possession of someone in despair, causing him or her to do or say things that are horrible; they have lost control.

Jesus came face to face with a man who had been through the process and was "demon-possessed, ... exceedingly fierce" (Matt. 8:28). He couldn't say anything intelligent or meaningful, but deep in his heart he longed to be saved. He said something stupid: "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:7). Just the opposite of what he had wanted to say!

But he had said the word "Jesus," with a sincere desire for help. But he couldn't even bring himself to ask; the possessor-demons controlled his words (Christ's disciples assumed that he was totally hopeless, just as many today think anyone "lost" is beyond help). But Jesus quickly realized that the man, though desperate, wanted to be saved. Mark records that He cast out the demons, and set the man free.

The truth is that Jesus put Himself in this man's way, which means--He took the initiative. He made His appearance so the lost man could make a response. He always takes the initiative somehow to help the person who is lost as at sea and has wasted all his or her opportunities. In some way Jesus crosses his or her path, so make the choice to cry out even if you can't frame the words.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found," says Isaiah. (The word "seek" in the Hebrew means "inquire after." The Lord doesn't play hide-and-seek with you.) "Call upon Him while He is near." He will respond and give you grace to "forsake" your evil "way," and you can "return to the Lord" (Isa. 55:6, 7).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 4, 2004.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Demonstration of the Faith of Jesus

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever been so burdened with duties that it seems you are about to be destroyed? You feel like a wild animal caught in a cage? Maybe you can find some pill that will calm you, enable you to get a night's sleep; but let's get down to the root of the problem: Satan himself is trying to destroy you.

And from there, let's go to the Source of deliverance: Christ on His cross.

He feels so alone: "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" The original language says He felt like He was crying out like an animal caught in a trap (Psalm 22:1).

Night and day He moans in distress; no help comes (vs. 2).

Contrary to the complaints of "good" people who don't like to hear Him say it, Jesus says He felt so crushed by "reproach of men" that He was a "worm, and no man" (vss. 3-6; the "worm" has been edited out of Isaac Watts' poem in our hymn books; now it's "such a one as I").

It does seem that Jesus has been rejected and humiliated by God Himself: they "laugh [Him] to scorn," ridicule His trust in God (vss. 7, 8). "A raging and roaring lion" is about to kill Him (vs. 13).

Amazing as it is to contemplate, the Son of God is on the verge of a nervous breakdown because it seems to Him in His distress that it is God who is trying to crush Him. "In all points tempted like as we are," He has trouble in the black darkness of His soul distinguishing between Satan and His Father. He must sort it out. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us" (vss. 14, 15; 2 Cor. 5:21). Here's the ultimate issue.

The biggest problem is knowing who He is (have you ever wondered who you are?). Jesus reviews His own personal history since He was born; "I was cast upon You from birth" (Psalm 22:10). This is the point on which Satan has time and again tortured Him—“IF You are the Son of God ...” You think You're the Messiah! What a Fool You are! Yes, doubts assailed Him.

He seems tossed on the horns of the wild buffalo of Africa; the lion has His head in its mouth; can you imagine greater personal distress (vss. 19-21)? Then in the last moment of His extremity, His faith triumphs and He breaks through into the sunshine. "You have answered Me" (vs. 21, last part).

From verse 22 on to the end, the Psalm becomes a song of praise. He won His battle, and you will win, too. Not because of your faith, no; in this Psalm we see "the faith of Jesus" demonstrated.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 2, 2003.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Judgment That's Good News

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Some kind of vast cosmic computer has all our information accurately stored within it, including data impossible for any man-made device to capture--thoughts and motives. Each deed or hidden purpose that conflicts with the foundation principle of the universe ("the law of liberty," James 2:12) will stand out on this computer record as evidence for a case, for Heaven's "commandment is exceedingly broad" (Psalm 119:96). The prophetic judgment scene appears calculated to warn us, and (many conclude) even to frighten us into preparation. But Christ will not coerce by fear what He would win only by love.

The One who presides is an impressive figure called "the Ancient of Days," Daniel says, before whom "a fiery stream issued and came forth" and "ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened" (Dan. 7:9, 10). The whole world is arraigned (see Acts 17:31), for "all have sinned," for which the "wages" is death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

But facing reality is always a healthy choice. It is a salutary thing to anticipate this judgment, for "we must all appear" in it (2 Cor. 5:10). And as of today, it is fortunately not too late to take constructive steps toward getting ready. To try to put the matter out of mind would be foolish, for if death and taxes are certain, this is even more so.

The Good News is that that Judge is your Brother "in the flesh," the Son of Man who took upon Himself "the likeness of sinful flesh" and knows exactly how "in all points" we are tempted. "In that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Rom. 8:3; Heb. 4:15; 2:18).

He doesn't have to persuade the Father to accept you, for "the Father Himself loves you," He says (John 16:27). You are the key figure in this drama who needs help, who needs to be persuaded of something. Your first step is to believe the Good News of God's grace, which is infinitely better than you have thought it to be.

The result of such believing is that you are reconciled to God; all the misunderstandings about Him are cleared up. This is receiving the atonement, exactly the right thing to do in this grand heavenly Day of Atonement.

God knows that once you believe the good news, your faith will manifest itself immediately, for "faith work[s] through love" (Gal. 5:6). As sunshine is filtered through a prism to produce those glorious colors of the spectrum from infrared to violet, so the faith of Christ shining out from your heart finds prismatic display in your life of obedience to all His commandments.

We can never say a big enough Thank You to Him!

--Robert J. Wieland

From: The Good News Is Better Than You Think, 2002.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Could God Be Wrong (Or Appear to Be)?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Is it possible that a sinful man could be right and God could be wrong (or at least appear to be wrong)? Could a man be reverent and rebuke God? Or correct Him? If that were to happen, would God be angry with him? Yes, there was once such a man, and God was pleased with him--Job.

Job did not know about the altercation in chapters one and two between God and Satan over him. God told the truth about him, he was indeed "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil" (1:8; 2:3). In Job's innocence, he could not understand why it appeared that God had treated him unjustly; his three friends pressed this thorn deeply into Job's heart, telling him that God had not punished him as much as he deserved--Job was a terribly evil man, or all these calamities could never have come upon him.

Job knew positively, that was not true about him; he knew that he had been "a blameless and upright man, one who feared God and shunned evil." That was plain, solid truth. To him in his innocent honesty, God was going back on His true character of righteousness and justice.

So Job did what any honest person should do under that circumstance: he called on God to repent and return to His true character of love and righteousness!

And God loved to hear him say it. Job proved that God was right when He told Satan that Job was "blameless and upright." In the end God vindicated Job and honored him as a man who anticipated the people in Revelation 17:14 as the group who are "with" "the Lamb" [openly and bravely on His side in the great controversy!] and "are called, chosen, and faithful."

The Lord Jesus is even now calling His "144,000" out of "every nation, tribe, tongue, and people" (Rev. 14:6). The story of Job is a great blessing, for it helps us understand that immense developments are happening behind the heavenly scenes when it appears to us on the surface that God has abandoned the great controversy with Satan.

When probation closes, there will be a people who will "taste" of the "cup" that Jesus drank down when He cried on His cross, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Their hearts will be knit with His in eternal union!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 10, 2007.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Final Atonement--Let's Not Miss Out

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When people ask, "What is Jesus doing now?" the standard answer is, "I go to prepare a place for you. ... that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2, 3). Nailing boards and laying brick to build "houses" for us? He must have something more meaningful to do.

He is working 24 hours a day seven days a week as our great High Priest. But what does that mean? A priest's job is to go between sinful people and God; so is Jesus a Lawyer "fixing" our tickets with the Judge? "I know how sinful you are; you can't help it, so just go on sinning. Trust Me as your Lawyer; I'll get you through the wrath of God"? But that may be immature.

Jesus Christ has no mind for make-believe. Not now on this cosmic Day of Atonement, His final work just before He returns personally. A living people must be prepared to meet Him face to face, to look in His eyes with no shelter in between. Since His personal presence "is a consuming fire" to sin (Heb. 12:29), it makes sense that He is "cleansing" a people of all sin.

Cherishing sin deep in the heart is lethal! Zechariah 13:1 has the idea--a "fountain shall be opened ... for sin and for uncleanness" from all the selfish filth stashed away in the closet of our minds and hearts. Through Christ's true Vicar on earth, His Holy Spirit, He is working to "convict," to make His people aware of what is hidden unknown in the heart (see Jer. 17:9), so it can be confessed and renounced. It's a joyous work motivated not by craven fear, but by a heart appreciation of His much more abounding grace. Zechariah understood it: that "grace" opens our blinded eyes to see Him on His cross as One whom we have "pierced" (12:10). Sin deeper than we have ever imagined!

The result? A total heart-reconciliation with Him, the "final atonement." Let's not miss out on what He is doing.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 29, 2001.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Unimaginable Joy of Living in "Heavenly Places"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's a strange but delightful promise that God makes to us--that our Lord Jesus Christ will dwell with us, live with us, share our abode with us: He "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Imagine living in such "places"!

We may live in a shack--but the Lord Jesus says He will live with us there, share our humble abode, partake of our lowly hospitality as our permanent Guest. His holy presence with us makes our shack become a Palace. It is transformed into a "heavenly place," the loftiest abode in the universe. Never again are we to be lonely. Life each new day becomes a fresh adventure, for we never can anticipate the new and unimagined joy that becomes ours, dwelling with Jesus in a divine intimacy.

Even Jesus Himself shares with us the unimaginable joy of living in "heavenly places," for in verse 20 we read that the Father "raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the [same] heavenly places." In the case of Jesus there is a super magnificent heavenly joy involved, for Jesus was "dead," and no one can ever appreciate life like someone who was "dead"--the only such Man so far is Jesus, and now it's we also through living faith in Him.

Our brother and fellow-believer in Christ, the beloved apostle Paul, has a glimpse of what it all means. He has a unique insight: he sees us as having been "dead," but he also sees our present life therefore as being a "resurrection" from death. Interesting insight! This transforms life for us: it makes our present ordinary existence to be transformed into a magnificent resurrection of life.

Your eternal life "in Christ" has already begun; you may yet go to sleep a bit, but if your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life, nothing can ever take it out (aside from your own choice, which, God forbid!).

"I have come," says Jesus, "that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). That's your life today; it transforms what you thought was your mere existence into the most glorious life in all the universe--life with Christ, its Creator, its Sustainer, and the Savior of it all. And there's no end to it, ever! Thank Him that it's true, and then serve Him gladly forever.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 3, 2008.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Disaster Survivors--What Can We Tell Them?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If there is a God of love, of compassion, of mercy, why does He permit natural disasters? The TV images are etched in our memory as vividly as if the horror were next door. The atheist simply says, "There is no God! Forget him." The Muslim says quite likely, "It's the will of Allah that this happen! Somehow it pleases him. Submit." The Calvinist will say: "God predestined this to happen. It was his will," much the same as the Muslim's view. The materialist will shrug his shoulders, and say, "I'm glad I don't have to suffer like that!" and go on seeking pleasure. The Bible transcribes his thoughts, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (1 Cor. 15:32).

One flood survivor was reported to say, "It's like the gods have abandoned us." What can the Christian say? It's not so much saying something as doing something. He will give generously to help send relief. He will also give, and go if possible, to tell the people the truth of God's character of love, in other words, the gospel.

But what can one tell them? There is both good and evil in this world of sin; God created a perfect world, but sin has ruined it. Therefore, plagues have come and will come. But God has shared the sorrow that sin has brought to our once-perfect world, became One with us, and suffered the most intense agony that sin could bring to anyone--crucifixion. He is Lord of lords and King of kings, but not yet has the time come for Him to re-create this earth into the new earth because "the course of this world" is still in rebellion against God, and Satan is still "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2).

Tell the suffering people that we can cherish a "blessed hope" in the second coming of Christ, that He will wipe away all tears. And if any of us have survived floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, plane or car crashes, crime, cancer, etc., we should remember what life we have left and what little we may have, and do what we can to lessen the suffering of someone else.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus ..." (Phil. 2:5).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 8, 2000.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: What Does the "Savior of the World" Save the World From?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Lord Jesus Christ is "the Savior of the world" (John 4:42). But what does He save the world from? What is salvation? Is it merely a physical resurrection, carrying on the same existence which we now have, with new bodies? Or can we say that salvation is deliverance from the sin that plagues our present life? And if we have not known what that deliverance from sin is now, will we be able to enjoy any kind of a "resurrection"?

We humans are not "saved" by being delivered utterly from "the flesh," but by receiving power to rule over the clamors of our "flesh." The "[much more abounding] grace of God" actually "teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" (Titus 2:11, 12, New International Version). This is to rule over all the evil tendencies and desires of "the flesh" which we have inherited from the fallen head of our human race, Adam. We humans do not develop character by being delivered from the realm of temptation, but by receiving power to conquer all the temptation. That is salvation!

The Savior does not try to save us in a way that would leave us limp and characterless, by putting us in a place of no temptation; no, He came to us humans just where we are, in the midst of all our temptations. He came in the very flesh as we have, and in that flesh He met all the temptations known to that flesh, and conquered every one of them right up to the moment when He cried "It is finished!" on His cross and bowed His head and died.

By means of that conquest, He has brought victory over the flesh to every soul in the world who will open his heart to receive that "faith of Jesus." Hot-house tree plants that have never been outdoors and never known cold and wind are helpless to endure real life and can never develop into strong trees; the Savior of the world is busy as our great High Priest "saving" a people who will be happy meeting Him face to face when He returns, who will not be ashamed in His personal presence. They must not be surprised that temptations assail them, or that trials plague them. That is evidence that the High Priest is actually working on their case!

Good news! Let Him work!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 28, 2007.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Bible Teaches Genuine Self-Respect

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Bible does not encourage self-esteem, but it does teach genuine self-respect--the solid kind that all the devils in hell can't undo. It's learned from believing the following story:

At the age of 30, Jesus of Nazareth got the news that John the Baptist was preaching repentance at the Jordan River. He told His mother Mary, "Mother, I've got to go. I'm laying down my saws, hammers, and chisels, and I'll never touch them again; I'm going on the mission My Father told me of, that I've told you about since I was twelve" (see Luke 2:49).

John refused to baptize Him. "I am ordained to baptize only people who have repented, and You have no sins to repent of." Then Jesus told him how He was taking the sins of the whole world upon Himself, making Himself guilty of them all, "made ... to be sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21). "And yes, I have repented of them all." So John relented (see Matt. 3:13-17).

When Jesus came out of the water, He knelt on the Jordan's banks and prayed such a prayer as the world had never heard before, nor had the angels in heaven. And something wonderful happened: the Father Himself answered Jesus verbally and audibly so the whole world could hear Him (except they didn't recognize the Voice): "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). And, you remember, the dove descended, as the visible Holy Spirit.

As the Father put His arms around Jesus before the whole world, He also put His arms around you, and said those same words. "But I am a sinner," you say; "He wouldn't do that for me!"

When you go to a shop and buy something for $10, you exchange your $10 for an item which you believe is equivalent in value. We read that the Father "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ... " You are "the world." In other words, when the Father thinks of you with all your sins and unworthiness, He thinks of you as of equivalent value with His Son; He loves you both equally.

You'll spend the rest of your life here on earth, and in heaven eternally, trying to understand this.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 24, 2007.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Priceless Counsel From the Apostle Paul

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The apostle Paul has given us priceless counsel: "I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Rom. 12:3). None of us are excused from listening.

But if he stops there in the middle of his sentence, he leaves us in such a state of self-depreciation and unworthiness, that life could become a hell on earth. How highly should I "think of myself"? I have sinned (Rom. 3:23); I "am less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8); I have no "righteousness of my own" (Phil. 3:9); not only am I a sinner, I "am the chief of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15); my natural-born unbelief merits for me "condemnation" because I "have loved darkness rather than light" (John 3:18, 19); "woe is me, for I am undone" (Isa. 6:5).

But Paul doesn't stop halfway through that sentence. He continues: while I am to think of myself in a humble way, I am also to "think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). No matter how much I have sinned, how unworthy I am, God has given me an appropriate personal gift of faith. He respects and honors my personality (Psalm 139:5-18).

He has already died my second death (Heb. 2:9), thus He has elected me to eternal salvation (Eph. 1:4-6), not willing that I should perish (1 Tim. 2:4). If I simply tell the truth, Christ is already my "Savior, ... especially" if I "believe" (1 Tim. 4:10; John 4:42). Therefore I am invited to the great banquet of "the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev. 19:9) where there is a place card with my name on it--all by virtue of Christ's sacrifice on His cross when He went to hell to find me.

Does this mean that I shall continue living in sin, rebellion, and transgression of God's holy law? If the love (agape) of Christ constrains and motivates me, I can't live for self (2 Cor. 5:14, 15), for the Holy Spirit is stronger than my own sinful nature that I was born with (Gal. 5:16, 17), and the much more abounding grace of Christ is stronger than the world's abounding sin (Rom. 5:20).

Yes, if I get a glimpse of the cross of Christ, I know that I belong there instead of Him, I deserve what He suffered; I confess it, and lo, "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

And that "measure of faith" that God has given me makes me live "risen with Christ" (Rom. 6:5).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 4, 2004.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Whatever the Crushing Blow in Your Life, the Savior Says, "Come to Me"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The happiness and peace that Christ promises are infinite in scope. But please remember that those blessings are all "in Him." If you have suffered a bad deal in life--a heart-breaking divorce, disappointment in love, failure in business or career, rejection by peers, or a battle with cancer (we could go on and on)--as Savior of the world, Christ opens His arms and says "Come," "I have come that [you] may have life, and that [you] may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Personified as Wisdom, He cries out, "Blessed is the [person] who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors, for whoever finds Me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord" (Prov. 8:34, 35). Joel says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls" (2:32; remember, Mount Zion and Jerusalem, the remnant, mean the church).

Whatever the crushing blow, either emotionally or physically, the Savior says, "Come to Me, ... I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Your heart will sing again, for these words apply: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay [the mud], and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth ..." (Psalm 40:1-3).

But all these blessings are "in Him." That is, you receive them in fellowship with Christ. Your soul is knit with His soul; His thoughts become your thoughts; His aspirations are your aspirations; you live "in Him." His cross becomes your cross; His presence is manifested with you in your loneliness and pain. As He is "made ... who knew no sin to be sin for us," you sense that the sin that weighs Him down is your sin. You identify with Him. You sense that oneness continually; and lo and behold, the "burden" that you carry and the "yoke" you thought was "hard" becomes "light" and "easy" (Matt. 11:30).

The reason is, identifying with Him, being "in Him," He is sharing your "yoke" with you, carrying the heavy part. You have a wholly new perspective on your life. And yes, you sing a "new song."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 5, 2000.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: God's Invitation to "Breakfast"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The controversy has raged for decades, yes even thousands of years: are human beings saved from eternal death by faith alone or by works? Or by faith plus works? It began with Abraham when he took a second wife, Hagar, to supplement his "faith" with "works." Christians of many churches are still confused about this.

The Bible seems clear, but it doesn't seem to end the conflict: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9). So, (a) salvation is a "gift of God" (see Rom. 5:15-18; the Bible doesn't say it's "an offer"); (b) even the faith is a gift; (c) and salvation is specifically "not of works," but the faith itself "works" (Gal. 5:6; it's a verb, not a noun).

Now, here's a simple "nuts and bolts" test: Is day-to-day living also by faith or is it partly by works of obedience? For example, you wake up in the morning. Is it your job now to initiate a "relationship" with God as though you call Him on your phone, wake Him up, and start a conversation with Him? And if you forget, is He is off doing something else and you are left on your own?

Well, here's the conflict: many sincerely think they see in the Bible evidence that the initiative is ours; it's our "works" or we have no connection, no "relationship" with Him. Maybe they are reading their "works" philosophy into the Bible.

Here's an interesting insight: According to Isaiah 50:4, God is awake before we are; He is trying to wake us up, inviting us to listen to Him; He is taking the initiative to maintain a "relationship" with us (which He started in the first place); our part is to respond to His renewed invitation. He loves us more than we have thought; His Good News is better than we imagined.

"The Lord God ... awakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as the learned," He "hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary" (Isa. 50:4). Yes, it's true! Now don't be "rebellious" to His every-morning invitation to "breakfast," nor "turn away" (vs. 5).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 23, 2000.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Problem of “Assurance” of Eternal Salvation

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Can anyone 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 I will declare to 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, and works, 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, have become wealthy, 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 say the right phrase, “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? Do you have a rebellious will against Him? Are you resisting the Holy Spirit’s convictions of sin? Thank God for sending Jesus to die our second death, for saving our souls. Let His Spirit guide you in the paths of obedience. There’s no need to worry about yourself.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the “Dial Daily Bread” Archive: January 7, 2000.
Copyright © 2017 by “Dial Daily Bread.”

Dial Daily Bread: The Precious Truth of Romans 8:1-4

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

God did a wonderful thing for us all when He called Saul of Tarsus to become Paul the apostle. Paul had a mighty intellect but was gifted with a humble, honest heart that enables him to connect with us everywhere who are deeply tempted, some one way, others, another.

In Galatians 5 he cites "works of the flesh" at the top of the list: "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness [unrestrained sin], ... revelries." "Our beloved brother Paul" frankly tells us "that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (vss. 19-21; cf. 2 Peter 3:15). We need that honesty!

Paul confesses that he has wanted deep in his soul to "delight in the law of God" but some evil force is "bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Rom. 7:22-24). That's the cry of human hearts worldwide.

Now Paul tells us the most precious truth of Romans 8:1-4: The Father knows our problem. Our "flesh" is "weak," and the law is powerless to help us. So, "sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh," sent His own Son right into the cesspool of human sin in order to save the world. Christ "was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin" that we might "become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). He took upon Himself the same sinful flesh that we all have, and conquered sin right there where it feeds on our souls.

Receive that faith of Jesus and "the righteous requirements of the law [are] fulfilled" in you as you "do not walk according to the flesh but according to the [Holy] Spirit" (Rom. 8:4). He is stronger than all temptations!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 13, 2005.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The "Ruler of This World" Who Wreaks Havoc Is Not Christ

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Many thoughtful Christians ask, "Why does God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible says 'God is love' (1 John 4:8), permit these awful disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes?" To say nothing of wars that we humans create.

All such questions inevitably revert to the great one: Why did the loving Creator of the world permit the Flood of Noah? It upset the earth's equilibrium! In that history we see the portrayal of the government of Heaven in relation to fallen, sinful humanity.

God did not permit the Flood to come for 120 years, because through Noah He had proclaimed a message of "the righteousness which is according to faith" (1 Peter 3:18-20; Heb. 11:7). But unbelieving, rebellious humanity had become a curse to themselves.

Now only a small portion of the earth's surface is inhabitable, for again "the earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have ... broken the everlasting covenant" (Isa. 24:5). That's a guilt we all share.

God purposes that that same message of "righteousness by faith" again be proclaimed worldwide (Rev. 14:6-12). "The ruler of this world" who wreaks this havoc is not Christ--he is the Enemy of Christ, "the prince of the power of the air" (cf. John 14:30; Eph. 2:2).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 14, 2005.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Does God Remember King Solomon's Prayer?

Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”

Does God remember King Solomon's prayer? (It's buried in 1 Kings 8:22-61.) Your happiness now and forever depends on your answer.

You’ve read about his temple, with furniture of solid gold, and wallpaper also of solid gold. Huge crowds were present at the dedication. His prayer is the longest in the Bible. He knelt with his hands lifted up to heaven (vs. 54). It takes us a long time even to read it; he must have been tired.

Eleven times he prays to the great God of all the earth to "hear," to "listen," to anybody in all the world who prays to Him, even the pagans and the heathen anywhere whose heart turns toward Him. Solomon seemed obsessed with this idea of begging God to listen or hear, even if those who pray have rebelled against Him, disobeyed, "forsaken … the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods and served them" (Jer. 9:22). The invitation is to sinners everywhere: "Hear … their prayer and their supplication," Solomon begs (vs. 49).

Even if they should languish as captives in a foreign land, if they would “come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness,’ … then hear … their prayer and their supplication (vss. 46-49).

Now the question: Does God remember Solomon's prayer? The king asks in verse 59 that “these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord” be recorded before the eyes of God, forever, written on the walls of His heavenly sanctuary!

If you answer the question, Yes, then know that He welcomes you, a sinner, into His presence, and that He indeed "hears," "listens," to your prayer.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 19, 2001.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Key That Sets the Soul Free

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Studying the book of Daniel is an opportunity, for Jesus Christ promised that those who "read" that particular book will be given "understanding." That's something precious! The exact wording of His promise is, "Whoever reads, let him understand" (Matt. 24:15). The word "let" implies that the Holy Spirit will release the "reader" from the deadly grip of his love of ignorance of holy truth that is so common to all humanity--"the darkness of this age" (Eph. 6:12).

In other words, the lethal spell of neglecting Bible study will be broken; the captivity to worldly pleasure will be released. "Reading" the book of Daniel will be the key that sets the soul free from the prison of this world's spiritual slavery.

The special blessing comes in a corporate sense--when people together hunger for this understanding, it becomes greater than when one in lonely solitude prays.

The word that Jesus used for "read" is itself a little stick of mental dynamite. It means much more than glancing at the news headlines. It is ana-ginosko in the original language, which means "again and again" seeking to know, repeated pondering, continued efforts to satisfy mental and spiritual hunger and thirst.

The idea in that word is a cherishing of written truth which comes from "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). That is wisdom! Such attention to the book of Daniel will reward you with eternal starlit glory: "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, ... like the stars forever and ever" (Dan. 12:3). That "shine" begins now, in this present life, and it will never end.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 27, 2004.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Psalm for This Time of Cataclysmic Confusion

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Paul, God's faithful servant, suffered a humiliating rebuke in his evangelism crusade in the great city of Athens. He made the mistake of trying to match philosophy with philosophy, trying to meet the Athenian scholars on their own ground. The result: near failure in soul-winning, although a few did respond.

When he came to the immoral city of Corinth, he says he "determined not to know anything among [them] except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2). The book of Revelation is also a presentation of the cross of Christ. In code language, "a Lamb as though it had been slain" (5:6) is the same message as Paul's theme in Corinth. Some twenty-eight times we find that word "Lamb" in Revelation--the book which is the most cross-centered book in the Bible! It's the same as Paul's message of "Christ and Him crucified." Without discerning this truth, the fanatics or enthusiasts find Revelation to be their playground.

As we near the end of time, their confusion will become more and more painful to endure. Each will proclaim that he knows the secret of "finishing God's work," "listen to me!" But he "multiplies words. ... The labor of fools wearies [everyone], for they do not even know how to go to the city!" (Eccl. 10:12-15). Are you bewildered by the multiplicity of voices crying "Lo here! or, lo there!" (Luke 17:21, KJV)?

Psalm 46 was written for this time of cataclysmic confusion when "the waters roar and [are] troubled" and "mountains [are] carried into the midst of the sea" (vss. 2, 3). The counsel is, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth" (vs. 10). The language is that of Revelation 18:1-4.

Be wise and patient; spend time alone with God so that you are ready to discern that true last-days' message of the cross.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 20, 2006.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Beginning of a Genuine Christian Experience

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Bible often tells us to seek the Lord. For example, Psalm 27:8: "When you said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.'" Hosea 10:12: "It is time to seek the Lord." Isaiah 55:6: "Seek the Lord while He may be found." And many others.

But the Bible also tells us that the Lord is seeking us: "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). He says He is the Good Shepherd, who seeks His lost sheep. Jesus told how the Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep and sought the one lost sheep (15:3-7).

He is like the woman who searched and found her one lost coin (15:8-10). Even the parable of the prodigal son tells the same truth: the son did not create love in his father's heart--he walked home only because he knew there was love in that father's heart for him.

Our salvation does not depend on our skill or cleverness in finding an elusive God who is hiding from us; it depends on our believing, realizing, comprehending, appreciating what it cost Jesus to seek and find us.

If you work hard trying to find Him, you will naturally be proud of your accomplishment, especially when you consider how few people succeed. But if you realize that "from first to last," it has been Christ's seeking love trying to find you, then your proud heart is melted. And that is the beginning of a genuine Christian experience.

The Hebrew word often translated as "seek" means "inquire of," "pay attention to." Thus Isaiah 55:6 really says, "Pay attention to the Lord while He is available, call upon Him while He is near." In this solemn Day of Atonement, it surely is time to "pay attention to the Lord." That He is still "available" is tremendous Good News.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 3, 1999.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The "Hardest" Thing for Anyone to Do

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Christian church is divided into many denominations and sects, but all would agree on one statement: the Gospel is Good News. The angels at Bethlehem said so: it's "good tidings of great joy ... to all people" (Luke 2:10). But how good? There's where we split off into contentions and conflicts.

A writer of great acclaim once penned a little book, Steps to Christ. She blew the lid off of legalism; speaking on one page several times about what the cross of Christ means, she said: "The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; ... to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins" (p. 27).

Can the Good News be that good--that you have to "resist" Christ, reject Him, in order to be lost? There's the "Armageddon" battlefield over the teachings of righteousness by faith. "No way!" some contend; to say that you have to resist Him in order to be lost will open the gates of the New Jerusalem and admit hordes who don't deserve to get in. So let's go to the Bible, trusting we can settle the question there:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you" (Jer. 31:3). Speaking of what Paul meant when he said, "I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2), the Lord Jesus said: "I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32; that's the Loud Cry!). Yes, that's a huge "IF"!

"God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them" (2 Cor. 5:19), but instead "He has borne our ... transgressions, ... was bruised for our iniquities; ... the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:4-6). The Father "imputed" our guilt onto Him so that Christ who "knew no sin" was "made to be sin for us" (that's everybody! 2 Cor. 5:21). In that act on His cross, Christ died "the second death" of "every man" in the world (Heb. 2:9). He did it before any of us were even born, for He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

The logic follows as day follows night: If He has already died your second death, paid the penalty for your sin, the only way you can be lost is to reject what He has done for you.

And there's the mountain-high problem: your "carnal mind" is "enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). Hang on to it, and you are wearing out your life in re-crucifying Christ "afresh," and in your blind selfishness you are putting Him "to open shame" before the world and before the universe (Heb. 6:6, KJV). What you are doing is so "hard" you are "kicking against the goads," forcing yourself into premature old age, disabilities, and death (Acts 26:14), demonstrating for the final Judgment what you really choose--eternal death.

The "hardest" thing in the world for anyone to do is to resist the seeking love of Christ.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 1, 2007.
Copyright © 2017 by "Dial Daily Bread."