Dial Daily Bread: Does God Consider You a Homeless Outsider?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever been tempted to doubt you belong in God's house? Does He consider you a homeless outsider? When you feel sinful and unworthy and have fallen short, you wonder. One day a Bible writer (who, we don't know!), came to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem feeling guilty and unworthy to enter in. Then he saw a sight that encouraged him: a little sparrow had made its home in some little nook or cranny in the most holy section of the Temple, right near the sacred altar. There it was, twittering in joy, laying its eggs and rearing its young in that part of Solomon's glorious temple where even the ordinary priests had no permission to enter! In fact, only the great high priest of Israel was permitted to enter that twice-sacred spot, and that on only one day in the entire year. And there was the little sparrow, totally unconcerned about the stay-away rules of Leviticus, confident of a welcome in the house of the Lord!

Then the poet wrote Psalm 84: "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord. ... Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God" (vss. 1-3, NIV).

It is possible that Jesus had that poem in mind when He told the disciples, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:29-31). If you own a home and if your soul is generous, you will enjoy making visitors feel welcome. It will be fun for you. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). That word translated "pleased" means that it's fun for the Father to do that! He enjoys welcoming sinners to His house. It's constantly "open house" night and day. "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!'" (Rev. 22:17). Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened" (Matt. 11:28). "Burdened" with what? More than carrying sacks of cement or office work! "Burdened" with sin, convictions of selfishness, vain regrets.

"Blessed [happy] are those who dwell in Your house" (Psalm 84:4). You are invited; come as you are, don't try to dress up first. For once the Pharisees were right, "This Man welcomes sinners!" (Luke 15:2).

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

Dial Daily Bread: Self-respect vs. Self-esteem

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is a world of difference between self-respect and self-esteem. One is a healthy, God-given, sanctified consciousness of common sense, and the other is a sinful sense of self-importance and pride. One is that blessed fruit of “grace” that teaches one “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3, KJV). Another version: “Be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you” (TEV). Another: “it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves” (Peterson).

Evidently, God wants us to “interpret” ourselves, but to do it “soberly,” with reasonable common sense, anticipating the final judgment when each “must ... appear before the judgment seat of Christ ... [to] receive ... according to that he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). The self-esteem approach leaves one liable to a rude shock before that “judgment seat,” hearing the dear Lord say, “Depart from Me” when the self-esteemers will arrogantly remonstrate with Him (Matt. 25:41-45). Of their glittering careers when they were sure that they had “prophesied in [His] name ... and done many wonderful works” and heard “all men ... speak well” of them (Luke 6:26) the Lord will be forced to say, “I never knew you” (cf. Matt. 7:21-23). Sad, it was somebody else apparently blessing you!

It sounds corny, but it’s biblical: when you seek to “interpret” yourself rightly, look around and thank the Lord that “a living dog is better than a dead lion.” When you’re invited to a banquet, “do not sit down in the best place. Lest one more honorable than you be invited ... and you ... with shame ... take the lowest place” (Luke 14:8-10).

Sanctified common sense! Better to practice it now than at last.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: God's HELP WANTED Sign

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

God has a HELP WANTED! sign in His window. Seriously, it's a job opening that He needs desperately to fill. Even though He is omnipotent, He is helpless to fill this vacancy Himself.

The position He needs to fill is that of foot in His body--the lowest down job. Specifically, the Bible says that "the Head" (that is, Christ Himself) "cannot say unto the feet, I have no need of you" (1 Cor. 12:21). The "body" especially needs feet or it cannot go where it should. (You may feel deeply unworthy to be the "foot" in "the body of Christ." Okay, maybe you are just the toenail--don't underestimate yourself. You'd find it difficult walking if you had no toenails!)

This job opening that God has is glimpsed in Ecclesiastes 9: "A great king ... besieged [a little city] ... and built great bulwarks against it." Its case appeared hopeless. But apparently someone prayed: "Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city" (vss. 14, 15). Wonderful!

But did the citizens stage a parade in his honor? "Yet no man remembered that same poor man." Being that "poor wise man" whom no one notices--that's God's job opening, right now.

He has always found it difficult to find qualified applicants, never more so than today. Just as the Vice President has an office very close to the Oval Office in the White House, the successful applicant for this job in God's "office" is close to Christ Himself. The two have something in common: Christ was [really, IS] "despised and rejected of men" (Isa. 53:3). "The Redeemer of Israel [says] to Him whom man despiseth, to Him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, ... He shall choose Thee" (Isa. 49:7). The job carries most unusual perks.

Don't be scared, humble but honored "Toenail." Do your duty and be happy--close to Christ.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Did Jesus Have to Pray?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Why did Jesus pray? Did He have to pray?

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

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

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

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

Have you ever done or said something foolish, even stupid, and you feared it might hurt someone else? And you hesitated to pray because you knew the fault was totally yours?

The dear Lord has hidden in His word something that is a blessing to you in this particular circumstance.

David has been anointed by Samuel with the assurance that God would lead him to become king of Israel. But everything has gone against him. He knows King Saul is "the anointed of the Lord," by God's choice. But Saul has been violently opposing David, forcing him to hide in caves like a runaway criminal.

David has endured these trials for years, and prayed earnestly. But finally the strain proves too great even for his faith. In 1 Samuel 27 he gives in to unbelief: "And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in the coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand" (vs. 1).

Sorry, David; that was raw unbelief. The great progenitor of the Messiah has stumbled. His faith was not perfect when he sought refuge among the enemies of God's people.

David made friends with Achish, their king. Then the problem became critical when Achish, determined to conquer Israel, "said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men" (28:1).

David is now in a terrible predicament. How can he refuse to help Achish who has apparently saved his life? And how can he, anointed to someday be king of Israel, join in a war against his own people? If you have fought against your own people how can you someday become their shepherd?

We don't have any special psalm that expressed David's desperate prayer this time. Psalm 34 is his prayer the first time he fled to Achish. But perhaps he found it difficult to pray this second time, when his mistake of unbelief landed him in the middle of the army attacking Israel, bent on killing "the anointed of the Lord."

But note how the dear Lord saved David out of this impossible trap: "The princes of the Philistines" didn't trust him and protested to Achish, "Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him [Ziklag], and let him not go down with us to battle" (1 Sam. 29:3, 4). Had not these pagan "princes" delivered him, David could never have become king of Israel!

Yes, the Lord saves His people out of their stupid mistakes even when their faith falters. And don't say that David was more important than you; God's concern is the same for you. Cherish the faith of "the Son of David." He "lived" in David's psalms; you do the same.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: The Simple "Hearing of Faith"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We are grateful that skilled scientific observation enables medical doctors to understand how certain medicines work to bring healing in the body. Now, does the Bible help us understand how certain truths can bring healing from sin? It's not magic; truth in Christ itself saves.

For example, there is a little phrase in Paul's Letter to the Galatians that opens a door into a room filled with light: "the hearing of faith" (3:2, 5). These people were worldly, hard to reach, materialistic, probably given to sensuality; they were Gentiles. But Paul's ministry had captured their attention, and their conversion was phenomenal. They gladly suffered persecution for their faith; their heart gratitude to Paul was so great that he says they would gladly have torn out their eyes to give to him if they could (4:14, 15).

What sort of truth-presentation accomplished this wonder? In 3:1 Paul lets us catch a glimpse of it: the Holy Spirit enabled him to tell the story of the cross so vividly that the people forgot who they were or where they were--they saw Christ "set forth" so graphically that He was "crucified in their midst."

It's their response that is captured in that little-known phrase: the simple "hearing of faith." Paul asks, Did you experience this by legalism ("works of law"), or by simple listening with heart-appreciation? (This is important for us to understand because the light that will "lighten the earth with glory" will be the same spiritual phenomenon.)

That word "hearing" is the simple Greek word from which we derive our word "acoustic." When it is combined with the prefix "hupo" (which means "under") we have "hupakoe," which is the Greek word for "obey" or "obedience." True obedience is not produced by any egocentric concern, whether fear of being lost or hope of reward!

And now we have the secret unraveled: this elusive "obedience" that we have spent decades, yes, more than a century, seeking, is produced by "listening" to the truth of what happened on the cross. But it must be graphically portrayed.

Preachers, if you find the people not listening, don't necessarily blame them. Maybe you should repent of feeling "rich and increased with goods," and humbly beg for some healthy "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (which of course is only "by faith").

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Feeling "God-forsaken" in a Vast Universe?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What do you do if your desperate prayers seem unanswered? Like telephoning someone you know is listening who never says a word in response? Like you're alone in a vast universe feeling, well, let's say it, "God-forsaken"?

It's as Moses said, the "heavens above" seem like "brass" and "the earth under thee is iron" (Deut. 28:23). Anyone who has never had even a taste of that can only mouth helpful words that sound empty. Those whom God honors do have a taste, for it involves "the fellowship [of Christ] of His sufferings" (Phil. 3:10). You can never enjoy "partaking" "when His glory shall be revealed" unless you have first been a partaker "of Christ's sufferings." This is the reason, the Word says, for you to "rejoice" (1 Peter 4:12, 13).

But this seems of small comfort just now. Let someone say something whom God especially called to nurture you (he partook intimately of Christ's sufferings). It's David in his Psalms:

"Wait on the Lord; ... wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). Find some spot where you can "shut thy door [and] pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matt. 6:6; that's the Son of David). But the point in "waiting" is not to say words as you pray, for the truth is you don't know what words to say! "We know not what we should pray for as we ought" (Rom. 8:26). So if you don't know what to say, don't just mouth words that you "know not." That's the point in "waiting on the Lord." Wait, so you can listen.

The Lord will give you some place where you can "shut thy door," and if such a place is only the darkness of night (that's a good time to pray when everybody else is asleep). To get up and kneel before the Lord when you want to stay snug in bed won't impress the Lord with your virtue, but it will help assure you yourself that you are serious (you need that conviction).

Now wait before Him, silent, eyes closed, alone, just asking Him to convict you of the truth of your situation. Don't hurry; "wait." If you're serious, you will "wait." You're having what inspiration says is "Christian experience." You "will watch to see what He will say unto [you]" (Hab. 2:1). Yes, for His Holy Spirit will convict you of God's response, for Jesus promised "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." That is, by His Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18). Now it's time for you to do something--"believe ... that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Wait.

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

Dial Daily Bread: Marriage--Old or New Covenant?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What's the difference between a New Covenant marriage and an Old Covenant marriage? Or are they the same?

Under the Old Covenant, you promise God faithfully that you will obey your marriage vows, come whatever. But maybe it doesn't go right; your spouse turns out to be ornery, happiness seems difficult or apparently impossible. Still, your marriage is "under the law." "The law" keeps you together which says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." You grit your teeth and hang on. You see somebody else who's nice; but you determine not to "fall" in love. Let's give the Old Covenant its credit, its due: it saves many marriages from going into divorce, and has done so for thousands of years.

Under the New Covenant, God's promise takes over. The seventh commandment which once was a stern prohibition becomes His happiness-filled promise: you shall not "fall" into an illicit love; you shall not become Satan's plaything. Your marriage shall not be poisoned with infidelity; you two shall not become alienated. Hearts are changed.

Husbands, the New Testament command, "love your wives," becomes fulfilled--you actually learn HOW to love them. HOW to make them happy. And how do you learn? You kneel at the cross of Christ and identify with Him "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it" (see Eph. 5:25). Yes, it's not impossible theory; you see how it's truth.

And lo and behold, your wife is enabled to respond. Many a woman becomes irritable simply because she feels betrayed into a loveless bind, and then the worst impulses of a disappointed heart become manifest. Peter tells you the New Covenant Good News: "Ye husbands, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Peter 3:7). There's a New Covenant marriage!

Wives, you too have some New Covenant promises which it becomes your job to believe. It's generally supposed that husbands are difficult to deal with. Verses 1-6 tell of the wit and wisdom that God's New Covenant promises impart to you--who otherwise are bewildered about what to do. Give them a good read--on your knees. You can learn.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: The Grand Deposit to Your Account

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Long ago when we were on furlough from mission service in Africa we had saved up $300 to buy a kerosene refrigerator to take back. But I lent the money to a church friend in my hometown in Florida so he could recover his pickup truck, which had been foreclosed for lack of payments. He was an old friend; I was sure he would repay me.

Meanwhile we went to the Seminary in Washington. Week after week, month after month, I waited to receive a check from him by mail; but nothing came. Time got short; I worried. Was my friend unfaithful?

All this while I had been receiving bank statements from my inactive account in my little hometown bank in Florida. I tossed them all unopened in a drawer, for I wasn’t using the account.

Finally, I looked at them. There, months before, was a mysterious deposit to my account of $300. All this time I had been doubting my friend, while he had been faithful.

By virtue of His great sacrifice on His cross, your Savior deposited to your personal account the gift of justification, forgiveness of sin, eternal life. He details all the items of this Grand Deposit in Ephesians 1. You knew nothing of it. You did nothing to merit it or to effect it. It was yours all this while, while your human heart was in alienation from Him. You needed to learn what is the true Good News of what He has already done for you.

Then when you learned the Good News of the gospel, and you believed, you EXPERIENCED justification by faith, you rejoiced in sins forgiven, you began to know the new quality of life that is “eternal life.” But it was all purchased for you at the cross of Christ, and deposited to your account “by grace.” Totally undeserved.

Now give some thought to those myriads who have never understood the true Good News. They have to understand HOW “God so loved” that “He GAVE” all for them. Then genuine faith can grip their hearts and work the works of obedience.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: That "Sin in the Heart"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Suppose you didn't choose to seek temptation by walking on Satan's ground, but suddenly it confronts you. It may come to you from a thousand directions. What Jesus described as "looking" worries you and you wonder about that "sin in the heart".

(1) Here is Good News. That was Joseph's problem in Potiphar's house in Egypt. He wasn't looking for temptation, but it came. At the age of 17 or so, Joseph had committed himself totally to the Lord because he understood the New Covenant promises. He was not in fear desperately trying to hold on to God's hand--God was holding him by the hand, and the Savior kept him from falling into a sudden, alluring temptation. He ran.

(2) You prepare ahead of time as he did by giving yourself to the Savior. Don't worry; He won't forget you. His much more abounding grace will "teach [you] to say No!" and run.

(3) Joseph alone in pagan Egypt was surrounded by a constant atmosphere like Sodom and Gomorrah. One wise writer tells us that he was as one who saw and heard not. It wasn't fear; he was living under the New Covenant and the Lord had written His ten commandments "law of liberty" on his heart.

(4) Now praise Him that He has done the same for you. Walk softly, be humble, you "need Him every hour." If Christ has saved you from committing fornication or adultery, you can praise Him throughout eternity, starting now. Thank Him for the mind of Christ.

(5) And if you have stumbled and fallen, receive His already-given gift of repentance as David received the gift (Psalm 51). Don't water it down into pious lukewarmness.

(6) Now tell others that He has saved you. That's what it means to "witness" for Him.

(7) As High Priest He is even now sealing His people (Rev. 14:1-5). Don't resist Him in His office work. He has business to do; let Him do it in your heart.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: A Clear Revelation of Jesus

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is a chapter in the Bible where Jesus is revealed so clearly that even the children can know they are close to Him and He is close to them. Hebrews 2 was written by one who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to present Christ as truly a human being, while at the same time He was truly God.

Hebrews 1 was written to present Him as having a wonderful name "by inheritance"--His name is God (vs. 8). Then chapter 2 was written to show that He is man. The entire chapter explains how the angel said of Him, "They shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Note:

(1) "We see Jesus ... made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death ... that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2: 9). That means He voluntarily stepped down to become "lower than the angels" so He could save us.

(2) He became one of us so that He might die our death. You and I were born to live; He was born to die. It wasn't to die our "sleep," but the death He "tasted" for "every man" was the real thing--the last death described in Revelation 2:11 and 20:14.

(3) Jesus put Himself in the place of sinners, taking their burden of guilt upon Himself. When He cried on his cross, "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" He was suffering side by side with the crucified thieves. The repentant thief did not feel forsaken by God for Christ had assured him of forgiveness and salvation; his heart was buoyed up with joy in spite of his physical agony. But Christ suffered worse than the UNrepentant thief. He died his death, also.

(4) The nature that Christ "took part of" is that of "the children," not that of the unfallen father of our race (Heb. 2:14). You have a Savior who meets you where you are at this moment: He "took part" of your DNA heredity, your weakness, your guilt, yes, He "took" your final, second death upon Himself. He knows the strength of your temptation.

(5) Why did He do all this? So He can "succour" you as you "are tempted." He set you free from "the curse of the law" which is disobedience to the law (Gal. 3:13). He set you free from the slavery of sin.

Now, "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made [you] free" (Gal. 5:1). Your prison doors are opened; go free.

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

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Angels are not human beings. And especially, they are not humans who have died. The Bible tells us that they were created higher than we were. Speaking of "man," it says, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels" (Heb. 2:6, 7). They are not flesh and blood as we are, although they can assume the appearance of human beings on special occasions.

We read who they are: they are "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (1:14). You can't "see" a "spirit." But angels are sent by the Father on a mission to each one of us who believes. You may never hear an angel speak to you audibly with your physical hearing, but that's not the point. As a "spirit" the angel comes to you with a message that may be deeper yet clearer than human language can put it. And it will always be in total harmony with the Bible. And it will always be to lift you up, never to cast you down.

For example, you are tempted to discouragement. You don't clearly know the reason; a dark cloud seems over you which is deeper than words. Have you ever been in that situation? I have!

Then you remember the invitation of Jesus to come to His Father in prayer. You kneel, and you wait before Him, no rushing off in a frenzy; just "wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

Let me assure you: He will send one of His "ministering spirits," an angel, to give you a message of encouragement. It may not be in words your physical ear hears, but it will be a far deeper message that comes in a conviction of truth. Your heart burden will be lifted.

You will never be proud because you have a special connection with heaven. You will never "think of [yourself] more highly than [you] ought to think; but ... think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every one the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). You will hold your head high in self-respect, knowing you are a "servant" of everyone just as Jesus was. He came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matt. 20:28). And then you will know your true joy in life.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Are You in a Hopeless Situation?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Are you one of the many in an apparently hopeless situation? Years and years of unanswered prayer have all but silenced your faint whisper of hope. You are at the place where you think even God and all His holy angels can't "give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4). You've been praying a long time. It's too late, you feel.

Maybe it's a health problem, or marital, or an estrangement. Maybe you just built your house in Baghdad and it's been shattered by bombs and you have no insurance. Whatever, you are tempted to say goodbye forever to that "desire of thine heart." And yet you have given your heart to the Lord, you keep His commandments including the Sabbath, you are DOING everything He says to do. But just prolonged waiting for prayer to be answered. There's a chapter in the Bible written especially to encourage you:

(a) "Do not let the son of the foreigner, who has joined himself to the Lord, speak, ... 'The Lord has utterly separated me from His people'; nor let the eunuch say, 'Here I am, a dry tree'" (Isa. 56:3). If a man in Isaiah's day had been castrated, that must have been about the most final negative answer to prayer he could imagine. A tree forever fruitless! A man in Israel must have children, especially a boy, or he's a write-off forever. Just endure until death releases you from vain hopes--his was the natural assumption of castrated males. You're simply outside the "family" of God.

(b) But the Lord has a special message for them: "'Keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My [new] covenant, even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name BETTER than that of sons and daughters; ... an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. ... The Lord God gathers the outcasts of Israel'" (vss. 4-8).

(c) That's a renewal of the New Covenant promises God made to Abraham! "Choose" to believe when you think you can't; "hold fast" to the New Covenant promises, and you'll realize a "desire of thine heart" that is BETTER than you had once cherished or imagined.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Confused About the Future

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Perplexed and confused about how the world is going? What our future holds? What book to read that will make you understand Revelation? Or Daniel? Start looking for someone's book to explain it all and you'll probably end up in confusion unlimited (that's what Revelation's "Babylon" is). Here's some common sense guidance:

(1) Do precisely what Jesus said to do: read Daniel for yourself. "Whoso readeth, let him understand" (Matt. 24:15). The message is clear: The book is UN-sealed today (Dan. 12:3, 4, 10). God wants you to understand! This is not to say reject all help any book can give you (several old books have given me great help); but the promise is firm that "whoso reads let the Holy Spirit (who is willing) teach him to understand." "Take heed that no man deceive you," says Jesus (Matt. 24:4).

(2) Do precisely what the Holy Spirit invites you to do in Revelation 1:1-3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep [cherish] those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Simple enough, right?

Mix some good self-humbling common sense with your reading. Paul cautions us, "I say, through the grace given unto me, to every men [or woman, anthropos] that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). Resist the temptation to think that you are a genius; read in order to find the "bread of life" that will nourish your own famishing soul (John 6:35, 48-63). Don't wander away from the cross of Jesus into vain political or theological speculations.

(3) Peter plants our feet on solid ground: "No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Respect the accumulated wisdom of consecrated Protestant Bible students of past centuries; the Holy Spirit has not been asleep. He has guided the thinking of those who understood Daniel and Revelation in the time-honored historicist understandings. When Jesus said "let [the reader] understand" He obviously meant: don't resist the Holy Spirit's teaching. He wants to teach you--more than you may want to learn! What you yearn to see is Jesus in history.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: David's Most Profound Meeting

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In his Shepherd Psalm David says he will be happy to "dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6). Sounds nice, in a poem; but would you find such a life rather boring if it goes on and on? No beer or alcoholic sales, no competitions where you will try to put the other person down, no violent movies, no selfishness of any kind, but there will be genuine love and gratitude for the gift of eternal salvation. Will you feel at home there?

The Bible represents God's eternal kingdom as a place of complete liberty, no one forced to be a citizen there against his or her will, and no one who could be happy there kept outside. In fact, there is the constant invitation, "Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). If anyone should feel that he or she has been unfairly kept out, God will open "the books" wherein are "written" all the secrets of one's life (20:12). The idea is not that one will be surprised to see or hear things he didn't know were there; the final judgment will be simply a final moment of full consciousness.

David himself, who wrote the 23rd Psalm, will be there rejoicing that his terrible sin of adultery/murder was forgiven when he confessed it. He will be grateful that God did not "take [His] Holy Spirit from [him]" but "restored unto him the joy of [His] salvation" (51:11, 12). "Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin," he says (32:5). If you can put yourself in David's place, you can understand how he will never feel that he deserves to "dwell in the house of the Lord forever," but you will sense how he will be forever grateful to a Savior who bore the guilt of his dark crime and "restored" his soul. He will meet his victim, Uriah the Hittite, in the resurrection day, and will beg his forgiveness for murdering him. His most profound meeting will be with the Savior who died his second death.

Eternity will not be long enough for David to express the gratitude that will flood his soul as he dwells in God's "house" forever. Is that same gratitude beginning to blossom in your soul today?

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: A Decision We HAVE to Make

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is a very sober warning in the Bible that it seems it is easy for us to forget. It's in Revelation14:9-12. "If any person worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God ..."

Then chapter 15 goes on to speak of those who have met this great challenge and have accepted that third angel's message, and have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name" who stand on the sea of glass singing the song of the Lamb forever and ever. In fact, the entire Book of Revelation is concerned about this issue--the mark of the beast.

Chapter 7 describes that same group who sing the song of the Lamb as those who have received the seal of God, who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

In the Bible, a "seal" is interchangeable with a "mark." So the Book of Revelation tells us that in the last days just prior to Jesus' return in the clouds of heaven, the entire population of the earth will be divided into two groups: those who receive that "seal of God" and those who accept that "mark of the beast." Pretty serious, isn't it? This requires VERY careful study. Revelation 13:8 says that "all that dwell upon the earth" will worship the beast with the sole exception of those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. It's another crisis which in principle is the same that the people faced when Jesus was here on earth. They were divided into two groups--those who believed He was the true Messiah as He claimed, and those who rejected Him. He asked them, "What think ye of Christ?" (Matt. 22:42). They HAD to decide!

And so today, you and I HAVE to decide between the mark of the beast and the seal of God. But the issue is far, far deeper than a superficial, skin-deep outward sign. "The third angel's message in verity" is the true message of righteousness by faith; it will lead to receiving the seal of God. A false, legalistic view will lead to the mark of the beast. It's time for serious study!

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

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever read The Unnecessary Prayer in the Bible? Offered from a sad heart that was broken with Unnecessary Sorrow. That prayer came from a very good man whose sorrow was possible only because of his unbelief (the same unbelief all of us have known, by nature).

In Genesis 37:3-11 God has chosen Joseph, old Jacob's son, to be a prophet and has given him two inspired dreams. His father, mother, and eleven brothers would all someday bow down to him. The ten brothers hated him (just as we good church people find it easy to hate any true messenger the Lord may send to us--it's a perpetual phenomenon). Jacob almost believes, but then disbelieves. When the ten sell him as a slave into Egypt, they tell the old father a lie, and he believes it instead of the prophetic Good News. "A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces" (vs. 33). Jacob believes that lie for many years. Meanwhile Joseph has become Prime Minister of the great Empire of Egypt.

He pretends to talk rough to the ten brothers who finally come down to buy grain. Don't you dare come back unless you bring your youngest brother (Benjamin)! So they tell this "sad," bad news to old Jacob who concludes (like so often we all do!), "All these things are against me" (42:36; they were actually for him!). Finally, with reluctance he lets them take Benjamin and go back to buy some grain to save their lives. The ten have told him about that "mean man," the Prime Minister; they're all afraid of him. Jacob lets them go, and prays: "May God Almighty give you mercy before the man!" (43:14). Prays that Joseph, who loves them all with all his heart, will be merciful! The Unnecessary Prayer!

All those many years of Jacob's sorrow were needless except for his doubt of the Spirit of Prophecy. He should have believed that since God had called Joseph to the gift of prophecy He would never have let "a wild beast devour him." He should have told the ten, "You're lying!" He should have kept the faith and been happy all those long, sad years.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Time to "Pay Attention to the Lord"

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 99 sheep and sought the one lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). He is like the woman who searched and found her one lost coin (vss. 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, our strength, our savvy, 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." But if our minds are clouded by indulgence in appetite, we simply cannot "pay attention" to Him. This is why Daniel fasted as he sought to pay attention to God: He spent "three whole weeks" in most earnest prayer: "I ate no pleasant bread," he says. Hunger strike? No; he went easy on desserts because he wanted his mind to be clear to comprehend the instruction of the Lord. 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.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: The Crazy Man Who Was Smart

The Crazy Man Who Was Smart

Have you heard the story of "The Crazy Man Who Was Smart"? A humble, poor farmer, Ali came home from his hot sweaty work one evening with a strange glint in his eyes. His wife had cooked him a delicious supper but he wouldn't taste it. He grabbed up all his clothes, shoes, everything, and took them down to the Thrift Shop to sell them. His wife exclaimed, "Ali, are you crazy?" Next he grabbed all her clothes, even the occasional new dress he had been able to buy for her, her shoes, the lot, and took them downtown to sell. She told the kids, "Hide your toys and clothes; papa is on a rampage!" But it was too late. He grabbed their things too, and sold them. Then he sold his faithful donkey, his means of livelihood, and his cart.

His wife called his relatives, "Can't you do something with Ali? He's ruining us!" Next he brought a strange man to the house, and bargained with him, selling him every stick of furniture they owned, until the house was totally emptied of every possession, his wife crying in despair, the neighbors and relatives staring in wonderment.

Then Ali went away. When he came back, he had a look on his face as though he had conquered the world. Waving a sheet of paper in the air, he cried out, "I bought it! It's ours!" "You bought what?" his wife asked. "The land!" "What land?" "The land where I plow, where we have our little garden, the land I have been renting!"

Then he told her, the children, and the relatives, how he had been plowing the afternoon before when his plow struck something wooden deep down under the surface. Seeing no one around watching, he knelt down and scraped away the dirt, uncovering a chest full of gold and silver, pearls, and precious stones. This was rather common in the Middle East when there were no banks where a rich person could safely deposit his wealth; and if he went to war or died on a trip somewhere, the box would be lost to anyone's knowledge until someone like Ali finds it. But in order to own the box, Ali must buy the land.

The story is in Matthew 13:44. What is the treasure? A love for the Bible. It will give you more joy now and forever than going to Disneyland every day.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Dial Daily Bread: Listen on Your Knees

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you been listening? Above the raucous din of our freeways, jets, big-rigs, and trains; the noise of our TV's and radios; and talking on cell phones, something important is sounding: the blowing of a heavenly trumpet.

Most of the world is deaf to this sound of real alarm. It's the reality above and beyond the savvy of our wisest news commentators and philosophers. It's the news of the seventh angel blowing his trumpet in the Book of Revelation chapter 10:

A special Angel (Christ Himself) with a rainbow on His head declares solemnly to all the world "that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound [his trumpet], the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets" (vss. 1-7).

In Revelation chapters 8-11, we are given this glimpse into Reality--seven angels blowing seven trumpets of alarm. For centuries, careful, reverent-minded scholars have seen these "trumpets" as spanning the 2000 years since Christ's resurrection. In this larger picture of cosmic history, they have seen the events under the "fifth" and "sixth trumpets" as portraying the impact of Islam on the world, and the "seventh trumpet" as the time of the final Day of Atonement when the world's Savior completes His work of reconciling humanity to God's plan of salvation. Then "the kingdoms of this world ... become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ" (11:15). This solemn ministry is going on right now; none know how soon this special ministry of grace will end. The Angel calls us to be alert, to hear what's going on.

Listen on your knees.

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