Daily Bread

Something All the Devils in Hell Can't Undo

2012-01-31T04:46:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," The Bible does not encourage self-esteem, but it does teach a 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

A Serious Question About the Judgment

2012-01-30T05:08:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," The question is, will God be judged by the universe, or is "judgment" all one-sided with Him arbitrarily judging us? This is a serious issue because a mistaken idea here can influence a person's spiritual experience and motivate him or her to serve "God" because of fear. If such craven fear becomes the deepest motivation of our hearts, then our "Christianity"

The Man of Romans 7, and 8

2012-01-29T09:33:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," In reading Romans 7 and 8, you will see that in chapter 7 Paul is sad. He tells how he is "the purchased slave of sin. … What I do is not what I want to do, but what I detest. … I agree with the law [of God] and hold it to be admirable. But as things are, it is no longer I who perform the bad action, but sin that lodges in me. … Nothing good lodges in me--in my

Children and Answers to Prayer

2012-01-27T03:26:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Many times we tell stories to the children about wonderful answers to prayer. We tell about Daniel in the lions' den, of David fighting Goliath, of Peter saved from prison, and of course many modern stories of people's marvelous answers to prayer. That's all good, and I do not doubt the truth of those stories. But I am concerned about something else--sometimes

What Did Jesus Accomplish on His Cross?

2012-01-26T05:02:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," What did Jesus accomplish on His cross? The light that will yet "lighten the earth with glory” (cf. Rev. 18:1-4) will make it clear to every honest heart. It's a self-humbling truth that is cataclysmic.In John 12:47 He said He didn't come to pronounce condemnation on the world, "but to save the world.” "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;

The Work of a Defeated Foe

2012-01-25T05:20:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," When Jesus was resurrected, Satan was mortally wounded. Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled: the serpent (Satan) had indeed "bruised" Christ's "heel" through the crucifixion; but Christ "bruised" his "head." When you smash a serpent's head, you've killed it. So, since the resurrection, Satan has been crushed. But immediately the question arises in thoughtful minds, "

The Personal Ministry of the Holy Spirit

2012-01-24T03:51:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Sometime, for family worship simply read from the inspired Book the story of how Jesus healed the first leper in Israel since the Gentile Syrian, Naaman, was healed by the prophet Elisha. Read it word for word slowly, letting the Holy Spirit arouse your imagination according as the story is written in the Holy Word (Matt. 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-15).

A Powerful Gospel Punch in Daniel

2012-01-20T04:20:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Can you find the gospel in the Bible book of Daniel? Or is it all about "beasts” and world empires? The first chapter packs a powerful gospel punch: here are four young men in university training where their scholarships provide them access to the elitist dining rooms or cafeterias. They will be served the same gourmet bill of fare from the same kitchens that

"Gift" or "Offer"--Which Is It?

2012-01-19T03:52:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," The world is spiritually dark no matter where you look, but the bright light of Jesus shines: "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels … that He by the grace of God might taste death for everyone" (Heb. 2:9). Here is a brilliant revelation of salvation through "much more abounding grace" (cf. Rom. 5:20). Satan may try to foist on us enormous,

"Agape Never Faileth"

2012-01-18T03:14:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," If you love, you love forever, for as Abraham Lincoln said, "Love is eternal." Love has its source in God, for the Bible says that "God is love" (1 John 4:8), and He is eternal. And even love of man for woman and vice versa is a gift from God, for "God created man in His own image. In the image of God created He him; male and female created He them" (Gen. 1:27)

A New Chapter in Righteousness by Faith

2012-01-17T04:41:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," The closer we come to what the Bible speaks of as "the end of the world” (Matt. 24:3), the more intimate will the people of God become with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Their acquaintance will become like that of a couple who meet, get slightly acquainted, then fall in love, become engaged, and finally marry; no woman on earth will become the "bride of Christ,

Refreshing News in Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

2012-01-16T05:37:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," There is some refreshing news in Peter's sermon at Pentecost: "It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. ... Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:17, 21). That sounds like Good News, but is it too good?The words "all flesh" surely mean everybody in the world. How can it be

Pulling in Tandem With the Holy Spirit

2012-01-15T07:51:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," It has been wisely said that it is God's purpose to give us in answer to prayer that which otherwise He would not, could not, give. In other words, prayer can become critically important.Think of it in relation to someone being saved at last, or lost. John says clearly that "if we ask anything according to [God's] will, He hears us." Let's say that's (A). Now (

Managers of the Lord's Wealth

2012-01-13T03:57:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Do you like to help poor people? Jesus said in Mark 14:7 that as long as time lasts, there will be poor people all around us. In the final judgment day, we will be very much embarrassed if we have not helped them. In fact, Jesus' parable in Matthew 25 hinges our eternal destiny on how we have treated the poor. He says that He will tell each person, "Inasmuch as

Love Fully Revealed at the Cross

2012-01-12T04:00:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," When God promised to send us "Elijah the prophet" just before the second coming of Christ ("the great and dreadful day of the Lord"), his message is not to be a thunder and lightning denunciation of mankind reminiscent of his slaying the 450 prophets of Baal at the Kishon River (1 Kings 18:40). Rather, "Elijah's" message will perform the most effective

Happiness Is Staying Close to Him

2012-01-11T05:28:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," "The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God; nor indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7). And "the carnal mind" is what every human has who has not subjected his "mind" to the "faith of Jesus." Disturbing thought: we are all at war with God and with His holy law or we are by choice "crucified with Christ" with "the world ... crucified to

"How to Speak a Word in Season"

2012-01-09T05:01:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Millions of youth in many lands are so confused and disoriented by the social collapse that is enveloping our modern world, that they have no hope of living long. "I'm going nowhere" is their philosophy of life. Often brought up in one-parent families in ghettos, they have been deprived of a healthy sense of self-respect, and hardly know the meaning of the word

"Make Intercession" for Us--What Does It Mean?

2012-01-07T04:52:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," What does it mean that Jesus as our High Priest has to "make intercession" for us before the Father (Heb. 7:25)? The word "intercession" implies that somebody is not happy and has to be interceded with on our behalf. Christ "is at the right hand of God," Paul says, "who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34). John adds his insight when he compares Christ

The Most Glorious Life in the Universe

2012-01-06T03:33:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," It's a strange but delightful promise the Son of God makes to us--that He will dwell with us, live with us, share our abode with us: He "hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Imagine living in such "places"! You and I may live in shacks in Shantytown--but the Lord Jesus says He will live with us there, share our

Dedicated to a Special Group of People

2012-01-05T03:40:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," This mini-Bible study is dedicated to a special group of people who are heavily tempted sometimes to doubt that the Lord cares for them: they are people who once knew abounding good health, but who have become infirm so they cannot do what they used to do. Sometimes this change has come about simply because of old age; but it's still painful to endure. But the

The Last Great Trials of Faith

2012-01-04T05:06:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Why is it that sometimes God doesn't answer His "phone" when sincere people call Him in prayer? Why did God let poor Job go through that horrible experience when He Himself had to admit that Job was "a perfect and an upright man" (1:8)? Why did He let David for ten long years be hunted in the wilderness like a wild animal when he was "the anointed of the Lord"?

The Godhead--A Truth Beyond Our Understanding

2012-01-03T06:07:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Millions of Muslims are prejudiced against Christianity because they think Christians believe in three gods because of the commonly understood doctrine of the "Trinity." The Bible is clear: "The Lord our God is one LORD" (Deut. 6:4). When you pray, you pray to one God, not three gods. But the Bible is also clear that God is the Father, God is the Son, and God

Helping Lift the Burden Jesus Carries on His Heart

2012-01-02T05:42:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Some who read "Dial Daily Bread" struggle to put bread on the table and pay the rent, and put shoes on the children's feet. Having experienced poverty, I would not lay another straw on the burden they carry. Others who read these messages lay awake at night wondering what to do with the money the Lord has entrusted to them. I would like to encourage them to

Do New Year's Resolutions Bring Happiness?

2011-12-31T02:12:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," New Year's Day is traditionally the time for resolutions. "I will do better in this or that way during this new year!" And in practice, these New Year resolutions usually fail before even February comes. A wise writer has said, "Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. ... The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your

Rescued by a Love Totally Outside of Us

2011-12-30T04:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread," Since childhood we have all heard of the Good Shepherd who leaves His "ninety and nine" on that wild stormy night and seeks His one lost sheep "until He find it" (Luke 15:4-6). Its salvation depends entirely on the initiative of the Shepherd. The lost animal knows it's lost, but cannot "arise and go" on its own to find salvation. So, the Lord Jesus Christ "