Is God good?

 

       In a world filled with evil & its associated pain and suffering, how can we say that Almighty God is “good”? Who provides the definition for what is good? Could it be mortal man? I would say that was not possible because it is a definition that is universal and needs to be so. Why? How many people do you know who agree on the meaning of certain things. Face it, pretty much everyone would have a different definition for any given word. How could you possibly find a topic that EVERYONE in existence would agree on. I would have to say that would be impossible.

            An antitheist by the name of Christopher Hitchens, well known for his anti-God writings and statements, has gone so far as to write a book titled “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”. My contention with that sentiment is that I do not consider true Christianity a religion at all, but rather an intimate association with a loving God. I cannot speak for or against religion, because I don’t consider myself to be part of one. I believe I have a personal relationship with the One who created me in my mother’s womb. I have chosen to believe that, and I have the right to do so.

When God revealed Himself to Moses and the nation of Israel, it was in these terms: “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth’” (Exodus 34:6, emphasis added throughout).

The Bible says this about the eternal, Creator God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). If a gift is “good,” it ultimately comes from God—the unchanging God. “You are good, and do good” (Psalm 119:68).

“Good” is the consistent scriptural description of the nature and actions of God. In the Bible’s earliest revelation about God and His creative acts, the word “good” is used repeatedly. God described as “good” the things He made on the various days of creation, and the overall work of creation was summarized as “very good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25).

According to the Bible, God is good. To not believe that He is good is to negate His Word. While that is certainly your prerogative, it is too convenient a way to debunk its’ validity. To understand God and His Word, you must ask Him to reveal His truth to you, then be watching and listening for His “still small voice”. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Dealing with Grief

 

"Grief changes you, but it doesn't have to define you. You don't get over the loss of loved ones; you learn to live with the void, and in doing so, you discover how sacred life really is. You owe it to them—and to yourself—to keep loving, keep creating, and cherish every single morning you wake up to." — Pierce Brosnan, actor

 

            I thought this was tremendous advice. We all eventually experience the death of a loved one at some point in our lives. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer when she was just 53. I was 24, and not a Christian yet so it was very difficult to deal with. I was away at college (north Jersey), and I knew my mom had gone to the hospital for an operation. No mention of cancer. Story goes that the surgeon opened her up, saw that she was riddled with cancer, closed her back up and when she awoke, told her she didn’t have long to live. Within a couple weeks she had passed on. Finding that out when you’re there with your dad to see her and that she had just passed on was a very bitter pill to swallow. 

                  We always miss our loved ones, but Pierce is right. We must learn to live with the void. We need to come to grips with how quickly time passes and how fragile life truly is. We must learn to embrace the life that we have left and make the most out of every single moment. We will never know when our ticket will be punched. Knowing Christ helps immeasurably in dealing with all this. Why? Because he knows you and the one who passed on. He knows how you feel and His Word can act as a salve to begin the healing process. 

                  Nothing and no one can replace a parent, sibling, spouse, grandparent, or child, but God knows all about it and can ease the pain. When you have a precious memory or see an old picture of the one who has passed on, isn’t it possible that God had something to do with that? I just think He might.

                  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Cravings

 

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

 

Have you ever gotten exactly what you wanted yet still felt empty and unsatisfied? How many times have you seen something someone else you know has and wanted it? 1 John 2:15-17 speaks to this. We’ll call those things “cravings”. Something you want but do not need. 

The apostle John cautions believers to avoid loving the world. The world is a “Me First” place where the flesh becomes your master, caring only about RIGHT NOW. Short lived satisfaction. When you feed your flesh reason goes out the window. Any means to gain some sort of pleasant seems justified to the worldly mind. The Lord knows the outcome of dabbling in such things, hence the warning. 

As followers of Christ we shouldn’t allow what we see to dictate what we feel we need.

Comparison can lead to a downward spiral. Craving what others have can lead you to being dissatisfied with what YOU have. Everything this world has to offer has an expiration date. The things of God are eternal.

            Don’t allow your identity to be built on what impresses others. Humility is important from God’s perspective. Personal achievements can be very rewarding; however, what level of importance you place on them can make all the difference in the world. We need to remember that our calling as followers of Christ has never been to impress others, but rather to follow God. He is to be our focal point. 

            Material possessions are fine for what they are, but again I say it all depends on how much importance you place on owning them. They tend to take up space you really don’t have and before you know it you’re tired of looking at it and stick it in a spare room. Just another dust collector. Use your time and money wisely. You are shortchanging yourself unless you are placing your focus on Godly things that will matter much more than any material thing. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Christianity and Sin

 

Christianity is not the only “religion” that deals with sin. The concept of sin is present in various religious traditions, including Judaism and Islam, among others. In Judaism, sin is understood as a violation of divine commandments, and there are different categories of sins, such as deliberate sin, accidental sin, and sins committed by those raised in non-Jewish environments. In Islam, sin is viewed as opposition to Allah, rooted in human pride. Additionally, other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism address similar concepts through ideas like karma and moral transgressions. Each religion has its own framework for understanding, addressing, and atoning for sin.

Christianity IS the only “religion” where the remedy for sin is linked directly to Jesus of Nazareth, or more importantly, to His gruesome death on a cross. Islam doesn’t believe Jesus actually died on a cross at all: “mainstream Islam does not believe that Jesus died on the cross.  According to the Quran, specifically verses 4:157-158, Jesus was not killed or crucified; rather, God saved him and raised him bodily to heaven.” ^[1]

“Judaism does not believe Jesus died on the cross in any theological or doctrinal sense, as his life and death hold no religious significance in the Jewish faith. While some Jews may accept the crucifixion as a historical possibility executed by the Roman Empire, they explicitly reject the theological interpretations central to Christianity, such as atonement, resurrection, or Jesus being the Messiah.” ^[2]

No other set of religious beliefs allows for the complete eradication of all a person’s sins. None. Only Christianity, which offers complete and total forgiveness of all sin once for all time. What an incredible exchange. One man’s life in exchange for the removal of all sin from each person who professes faith in Christ. Amazing! Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/muslim-creed/was-jesus-crucified/

^[2]  https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/jewish-views-of-the-resurrection-of-jesus

I Have a Question

What is Discipleship?

 

            Discipleship or being a disciple, involves a spiritual excursion learning from a master teacher. The disciple imitates the master’s life and lives according to his instructions. A Christian disciple is an ardent follower of Jesus Christ. It is a process that the believer goes thru during the course of his or her life as a redeemed follower.

            I see a painful lack of discipling going on in the churches I’ve attended in Southern & Central New Jersey.  That’s not to say it isn’t done in churches throughout the country, and even the world, but I’ve attended many churches in the 48 years that I’ve been walking with the Lord and at least in those churches there wasn’t a whole lot of discipling going on. And that is what Pastors are called to do, are they not? 

That is why it is incredibly important for believers to NOT wait to be spoon fed, but learn how to feed themselves.  As I’ve said in other writings, we must learn to FEED our Spirit-man & STARVE our “Old Man”. Our old sinful nature would never be allowed in heaven, but we’ve been BORN AGAIN of the Spirit of God. We are a NEW CREATION. The OLD is past, behold all things have become new.

Don’t wait for someone to disciple you. If your churches has a discipleship program, then hallelujah and praise the Lord. But if they don’t, learn to FEED YOURSELF. It takes discipline and a heartfelt desire to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and a positive, Godly example to those around you. 

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question 

 

What are the Roles in the Trinity?

 

The Father

The Father is the source of all things, the creator of the universe, and the sustainer of life. He is described in Scripture as a loving and just God, who desires a relationship with His creation.  The sustenance provided by the Father is not merely physical but also spiritual, as He continually upholds the moral order of the universe. The Father is seen as a loving provider who meets the needs of His creation, ensuring that the world He crafted continues to flourish and reflect His glory.

 

The Son

The Son is the physical form that God took in the person of Jesus Christ. Through the incarnation, Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, joys, and sufferings, making Him relatable to us. This act of taking on flesh demonstrates God's deep love and commitment to humanity, bridging the gap that sin had created. The Son's role as the Savior is most clearly seen in His redemptive work on the cross. Jesus' death and resurrection are the cornerstone of Christian belief, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

 

The Holy Spirit

Often described as the "Counselor" or "Advocate," the Holy Spirit provides wisdom, direction, and understanding to those who seek to follow God's will. This guidance is not limited to moral decisions but encompasses all aspects of life, including relationships, career choices, and personal growth. The Holy Spirit works within the hearts of believers, illuminating the Scriptures and making the presence of God real and tangible in their daily lives.

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name, for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of life Ministries

*https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/god-in-three-persons-a-doctrine-we-barely-understand-11634405.html#google_vignette

I Have a Question 

 

What is Spiritual Atrophy?

             Spiritual atrophy is the gradual loss of faith, strength, and inner peace caused by the neglect of spiritual habits like prayer, worship, and helping others. Just like a body muscle gets weak when you do not use it, your inner spirit grows weak when you stop practicing your beliefs. ^[1]            

Spiritual atrophy is a real thing that many Christians suffer from. Praying & reading scripture begin to feel like boring chores. Refusing to change or grow which will stunt your maturation process. We must never lose our sense of wonder for the Godly things that surround us or the need to draw close to Him each day. 

            If you find yourself in this downward spiral, try changing a few habits that are designed to jumpstart your spiritual walk again. Try starting with brief prayers for yourself or others. Nothing long and drawn out for starters. Make it a point of reading a single verse of scripture each day. Make it a point to be kind to those you encounter each day. That will elevate in you your sense of caring for others. Spend your time around positive people. Conversely, avoid negative people for that will kill your self-confidence. Taken seriously, your recovery can be fairly swift. It depends on how seriously you take your relationship with God.

            Until next time, treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://www.citychurchau.com/blog/spiritual-atrophy