Be Steadfast

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” 

 

In a world that is filled with chaos, we read these comforting words. Because we have placed our faith in God, it stands to reason that we will trust Him as well. If we trust God, then we can be at peace. Why, you may ask? God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our tendencies and in knowing that God knows that we are prone to worry about things that we can either do nothing about or won’t even happen. Steadfast is to firmly fix something in place; therefore, if we firmly fix our minds on the Lord and His Word, He shall keep us at peace. Nothing can come against us that is not either caused or allowed by God. So, if He is in control of everything in creation, He must be in control of all the things that affect us. The logical conclusion to all this is to stay close to the Lord and allow His Holy Spirit to minister to our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits so that we remain at peace in all situations. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is Your Worth?

Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 

 

             What do you think you’re worth? Did you know you’re of incalculable worth to the God who created you? Think about how insignificant five sparrows would be. Let’s take a brief look at the sparrow. There are five species of sparrow in the world today. The largest species group is referred to as True Sparrows. There are 27 different types of True Sparrows flitting about the earth. Sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. The different species can weigh anywhere from a 1/2 oz to 1-1/2 ozs. Sparrows, which are primarily seed eating birds, have an extra bone in their tongues to help stiffen it giving them the innate ability to hold their seed firmly in their mouth.

             The first thing that could be said is regarding the intricacy of the bird’s skeletal structure, especially the extra bone in its tongue to aid in eating. Do you seriously think that just happened? I choose to believe that it was by grand design and the designer was Almighty God.

             It’s like the mustard seed, which was said to be the tiniest seed in Bible times. It is the perfect example for the amount of faith that is required to believe, just as one of the tiniest birds is a perfect example of one’s value or worth. If God, in all His power and wisdom, values the sparrow and doesn’t neglect them in any way, how much more does He value you? Luke makes a good point in saying that every single hair on your head is numbered. He knows how many hairs you have on your head!! With that in mind I would venture to say that God also knows the number of grains of sand there are on the earth’s beaches. It is meant to show that God cares and not just in a casual way. He cares for you intimately. He cares about everything that matters to you. He loves you and wants you to know it. 

You may be down and out and have nothing positive going in your life, but God still loves you. If you seek His face and trust in Him, He will never fail you. We have nothing to fear. We are not worth more to God than one sparrow, but rather many sparrows. If He takes good care of the little birds of creation, He will most assuredly take good care of you, but you must have faith - you must believe. You must place your complete trust in Him. It is easier if you know Him and to know Him comes from reading the Bible. In it we find promises of His never-ending love and the fact that He will never leave or forsake us. God cares deeply for you as an individual. Never forget that. Call out to Him regardless of your situation. He’s there waiting to hear from you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13b-15 “…God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

            We live in perilous times, with Satanic activity all around us. Corruption has run amok within big business, social media, and the government. True believers are under attack worldwide. But fear not, for their day is rapidly coming to an end. God has declared it to be so, and it shall be so when the time for their removal has come. We need not fear, but only stand firm in our faith and remain prepared. There are those who have rejected the loving forgiveness of the Lord in favor of other lies that are being presented as the truth. They’ve been given multiple chances to embrace freedom from sin and eternal life thru the Father but have turned away. I have told you in the past that God sends no one to hell, they send themselves by their own decision to embrace a lie that seems much for palatable to them then the truth. No matter what trials come your way, never think God has abandoned you. He knows all that is taking place and is patiently waiting in the hope that they turn toward the light. 

                  Paul says in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica to stand firm and hold fast to the teachings that had been passed on to them. Nothing that has taken place in this world cannot be reversed. God is infinitely more powerful than Satan, who is a created being. Just when Satan thinks he has turned the tide against the truth, Christ will return and overpower the enemy with the mere power of his breath. It will be such an abrupt end to evil that it will be like a man boxing with one who is without arms.

                  We have nothing to fear, for God is in ultimate and total control of all things that transpire in this world. When you hear news that causes you to be concerned, lay those concerns at the feet of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. There is nothing that can be done to us of any lasting consequence. The enemy can take everything from us, but they cannot ever take our soul from us. We belong to God, now and forevermore. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God’s Unfailing Love

Lamentations 3:31-32 “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

                   This is a tricky statement that implies that no matter what you’ve done God will not cast you out from his presence eternally. But that’s not true. To believe that you must make an assumption; that a loving God wouldn’t cast anyone out but make allowances as if all had a right to be with him in heaven. However, that assumption would have to ignore the fallen angels and unrepentant man. There are those who are presented with the gospel message repeatedly throughout their life and never embrace it as true. They choose to believe a lie that either there is no hell, no devil or that they are basically good people and God wouldn’t send good people out of his presence. The Bible makes it clear that there is a hell.^[1] In fact Jesus spoke more of hell ^{(aka - hades, Gehenna)} than anyone else in scripture.

                  It should be made clear that it brings no pleasure to the Lord to cast off anyone. Hell was created for Lucifer ^(Satan)and his fallen angels ^{(who then became demons)}, not man. But a person’s rejection of Christ and his forgiveness, plus God’s appointed standards for living voids man’s opportunity to go to heaven to live for all eternity with their Creator. This scripture in Lamentations shows us clearly that casting off someone out of his presence forever grieves him. To grieve is to “express great sorrow or distress. God’s plan has no place for those who turn away from his offer” ^[2].

                  He shows compassion towards man. Compassion is a “deep awareness of the suffering of another accompanied by the wish to relieve it.” ^[2] Scripture says we are but dust and to dust we shall return ^{[Genesis 3:19; Psalm 103:14]}. His love for us is great, unending and without conditions placed upon it, therefore, unless we completely reject God’s way of life, we will be with him after we pass on from this earth. Do not reject Almighty God. Shift your focus onto the scriptures and seek his face while he may be found, for someday it will be too late. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Luke 16:23; Matthew 11:23; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 5:22.

^[2] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

 

Patience Thru Wisdom

Proverbs 19:11“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

                  Solomon is said to be the wisest man to ever walk the earth. God gave him his wisdom because of his unselfish request; for the wisdom and knowledge to rule the people of Israel justly and without malice, with wisdom and discernment. ^{[1 Kings 3:1-15]} This so impressed the Lord that he gave him both what he asked for and the riches and material wealth he didn’t ask for. Solomon’s heart was after God. His words in the Book of Proverbs should be heeded because of his God given wisdom.

                  Patience is a godly trait that can be given in great measure if asked for. That is not to say that non-Christians can’t be patient, but believers in Christ often face a different type of trial or set of circumstances that will tear at the undercarriage of their faith if allowed. It’s at those times that we are to be as the prophet Isaiah declares: “Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” ^{[Isaiah 50:7]}. In this case Isaiah was speaking of the Messiah. Setting his face like flint means he will not shrink back from His mission, despite severe suffering, opposition, and humiliation. He also never held any offence against his perpetrators. 

Christ’s patience was impeccable and worthy of being emulated. In the face of many obstacles, we need to embrace the contemporary phrase; “Get on your knees and fight like a man.” It is thru prayer that mountains can be moved. The wise man will recognize that patience and not impudence is the route to take with those who would seek to incite you to say or do something unbecoming of a Christian. If you are lacking wisdom, seek it thru prayer. The Holy Spirit will dispense it as he wills to help us exhibit more Christ-like behavior. Patience thru wisdom is a key lesson for a believer to learn this side of heaven. God is in control and he absolutely knows what he’s doing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Proverbs 1:5 “…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…”.

Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

Proverbs 16:32 “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Believing with Your Heart

Romans 10:10-13 “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

“The heart in the Bible was thought to be a sort of "control center" from which all our decisions were made. So, when we read about the heart in the Bible, it is about the place where you have your will, your attitude, and intentions, and which is the source of your thoughts, actions, and words. This heart is the core of who you are as a person.” ^[1]

                  “To believe that the character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; - especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy.”- J. H. Newman. ^[2]

                  I began this post with some clarification regarding our heart and belief. You see, it’s not simply believing as in giving mental acknowledgement to someone or something. Scripture is clear, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” ^{[James 2:19]} It isn’t in the believing that makes you saved, per se, it is believing and then acting on that belief. Anyone can simply believe in something or someone, but how has that belief changed their life? 

Our focus is supposed to be on Jesus Christ; his life, ministry, and subsequent death and what that all means to us personally. It should mean that a purchase has been made on our behalf. It should mean that purchase paid off our sin debt, which we had been accumulating our entire life. Do you understand what that means? It may not be until you watch a movie like Mel Gibson’s THE PASSION, which graphically depicts Christ’s crucifixion, that what was done for you finally sinks in. It was preplanned and acted on solely for our benefit. So don’t say you are a Christian unless you truly know what it all entails and what is expected of you. 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26 that we are to pick up our cross (figuratively)

and follow him. He also asks a rather poignant question: “…what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” If you intend to swim you don’t go into the water up to your knees, you go in all the way.  If you tell people you are a Christian, be prepared to display your beliefs as a means of testifying to the world that belief. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries           

^[1] https://activechristianity.org/what-is-the-heart

^[2] John Henry Newman (February 21, 1801 to August 11, 1890) - was an English theologian, scholar, and poet, first an Anglican priest and later a Catholic priest and cardinal.

God’s Forgiveness

Psalm 103:8-12 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

            Good and evil both exist in this world today, just as they did in the past. Ever since Lucifer (Satan) had been cast out of heaven he has been at odds with God. He is a trickster and liar to the nth degree. Sadly, I see a lot of parallels between the spirit world and the world we live in. Lies are pervasive. They come from unexpected sources. The tentacles of evil reach into places once thought to be pure and righteous. We are at war with the enemy of our souls, make no mistake about that. We will win, because we know God wins and as long as we are on the side of righteousness we are safe. But the battle is coming to us like never before. We must gird our loins with the gospel of truth and put on the rest of the armor of God. ^{[Ephesians 6:10-18]}

                  Our future is secure as long as we stay linked to the things of the Lord. These verses above make it very clear that if we renounce our sin and live for him our past sins will never be held against us. We serve a compassionate and gracious God who loves us with an everlasting love. Nothing can cause him to not love us. Of those who have done such heinous acts against humanity, there is still hope. The Lord doesn’t repay us according to what we have done. He doesn’t wish that any would be separated from him for all eternity. ^{[2 Peter 3:9]}

                  The statement “as far as the east is from the west” is symbolic. If it were not that there would be a limit to his forgiveness as calculated by that distance. It’s like when Jesus tells the disciplines to forgive 7 x 70 times. ^{[Matthew 18:22]} If that were literally true then you’d be required to forgive people 490 times and that’s all. It is symbolic, for forgiveness is to be offered without reservation or hesitation, just as God forgave you. 

Rejoice, for if you are covered in the blood of Christ you are forgiven for all eternity and those sins shall never be held against you ever again. That, my friends, is very good news. Trust God and live for him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

OUR PROTECTOR

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

          Chapter 119 of Psalms is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. In the 114th verse above we find four words that stand out: 1) refuge, 2) shield, 3) hope and 4) word. The Psalmist is declaring first that God is his own personal refuge. What is a refuge? A refuge is a fortress of sorts, a safe haven, a shelter from danger. Not only has the writer stated this, but also that God is his shield. This is typically a piece of armor that is used to protect the combatant. So, the first portion of the verse deals with protection. Since there is nothing God is incapable of (Matthew 19:26; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:17, 27 & Luke 1:37), I can think of no better protector then Him. 

           The Psalmist states clearly that he has put his hope in the word of God. What is hope? It is a strong desire with anticipation. Hope is born out of faith and trust. If we have faith, we believe in things unseen as if they can be seen. If we have trust, we have an assurance that we can rely on that thing or person we have placed our faith in. It is with that in mindset that we have hope. When we place our hope in the Bible, we are placing our hope in all the statutes and promises that are within its covers. By stating that he puts his hope in God’s word, the Psalmist is in fact also stating that he has faith in Almighty God and through trust is relying on Him to make all things as they should be. God knows all things and can bring about His perfect will for each one of us. His plans for us are for success and His timing is impeccable. There is nothing we cannot do if we rely on God fully. He can open closed doors, provide sustenance where there is none, bring hope to the despondent. God is our protector and our helper in the most desperate of times. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Dying to Truly Live

1 Peter 2:24 - “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

            This is referred to by some as “substitutionary atonement”.  Blood is required by God to expunge one’s sin. It’s simply the way he set his sacrificial system up. He foreknew that man would sin against his laws so he had prearranged from the beginning of time that the second person of the Trinity, his Son Jesus Christ, would come to earth as a baby. Jesus would be raised by hand picked parents. Jesus knew he was God’s Son and also knew what would eventually be required of him. This is alluded to in 1 Timothy 1:15 - ^“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.”

                  Far too many people believe in Christ and in Father God, but don’t allow that knowledge to impact their lives in a personally intimate way. We are not talking about ‘religion’, we are talking about a ‘personal relationship’ … ‘a way of life’that is diametrically opposed to the world in which we live. Scripture cautions us not to walk with one foot in the spirit and one in the world, for it will compromise your walk for Christ.

                  I’m going to go out on a limb and say that while our wounds ‘have been’ healed, that statement applies to members of God’s family and / or those outside the family that believers stand in the gap for in prayer as a means of bringing them to the edge of the ledge regarding the reality of their sin. Sin must be shown to us so we can understand that it is wrong. We also need to grasp the fact that we cannot pay for it ourselves. It is a humbling and terrifying experience. But in our understanding, we need to accept that Christ paid that sin debt for us so we wouldn’t have to suffer the punishment we rightfully deserve. It is only in dying that we can truly live. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Childlike Faith

John 1:10-12 “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ….”

 

          Jesus of Nazareth came into the world two thousand years ago and the people of the day didn’t have any idea who He was. He came as the Messiah to the Jews, and they rejected Him, seeking a warrior king to defeat the Romans. But there were those who did accept Jesus and as a result received something far more important than just knowing Him; they received redemption, freedom from all sin. Their slate was clean. They got a do over as some would put it. The people of the day that realized He was something more than just a mere man were compelled to follow Him. They were His flock, and He was their shepherd. He taught them the things of God and while they may not have understood all that He said to them, they saw the miracles He performed with their own eyes. He was either a liar, a crazy man or He was exactly who He said He was – the Son of God. The people were fascinated by Him as He calmly flowed in and around them speaking of love, peace, mercy, and forgiveness. 

          If you had the chance to become a child again, would you? With all the responsibilities that we take on and the heavy weight of some of them, we may think we’d love to be a little child again. Carefree, lighthearted, not a care in the world. When Jesus ushers us into His family saying that we are now the children of God that is not exactly what he means. We obviously don’t become little children again, but rather should display some of the characteristics of little children; wonder, astonishment, trust, belief, love, respect, faith. The faith children have is simplistic and unquestioning. It is the type of faith a believer is to have.

 

Matthew 18:1-4 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child, whom he placed among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place—becoming like this child—is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”

 

          Life can be so simple, yet we tend to make it so complicated. The more things we attach ourselves to the more complex things become. We should consider shedding our attachments and simplify our lives. Keep Christ the main focal point and strive to become as little children with regards to our belief in God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

BE A LIGHT

 

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

          When I read this verse of scripture it makes me think of lighthouses*. They come in various shapes and sizes, yet it appears that most are cylindrical or more correctly, conical (have a cone-like shape). The reason for this shape is that it allows the fierce winds that can tend to buffet a coast to flow freely around it. The light it emits is to guide the navigators of the seas, so they don't crash upon the rocks. Some are used to guide them through water inlets as well. They are no longer used much because of the expense of upkeep and the emergence of modern technology; however, they still dot coastlines throughout the world as a reminder of days gone by. 

          As Christians, we are to be lights set upon a hill. We are also to not allow our lights to be extinguished. The message we carry is of great importance to the world. Just like an extinguished lighthouse beacon can spell doom for seafaring sailors, so an ineffective Christian can spell doom to those in need of redemption. Each individual makes contact with some that no one else have access to. We have association with people who respect us and listen to what we have to say. We are not to hide our light under a bushel, ignoring the needs of others. We must feed our spirit man so that our light burns bright as the noon day sun. 

          Lighthouses are majestic in appearance and of great value in that they represent a part of our history as a civilization. We, as believers, are invaluable to God who made us. We represent His handiwork and are a part of a spiritual history that has stood the test of time. We need to be proud of our heritage as Christians and strive to do the work of God and be His hand extended where He places us. Don’t extinguish the light that is within you, let it shine out for all to see. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* light•house:  a structure (as a tower) with a powerful light that gives a continuous or intermittent signal to seafaring navigators.

GOD'S GOOD WORK

 

Philippians 1:6 “… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

            As believers in Christ, we can be confident in our future. God isn’t going anywhere. That which has begun within us shall continue until the 2nd Coming of Christ. This should be encouraging to us. God isn’t going to give up on us. No matter what silly mistakes we make or how many times we ignore His instruction. His patience is shown throughout scripture. Patience is a characteristic born out of love. If we truly love someone, we will give them a lot of latitude when it comes to their conduct. God is no different. His good work in us is representative of the sanctification process that began once we accepted Christ into our hearts. Notice I said process. 

Sanctification* is both instantaneous and progressive. Instantaneous because at the moment we are forgiven we are seen by God through the blood of Christ making us, in His eyes, totally sanctified. Progressive because in reality the process of being made holy and set apart takes our whole lives. God has a purpose and plan to use each one of us in some form or fashion. Just as the High Priest sanctifies that which is used to make an offering suitable to present to God, so God sanctifies us that we might be used for His glory. So based on this verse in Philippians, we could say that we are a work in progress. Until Jesus appears in the clouds to take us home with Him, we are to be seeking instruction and serving our Heavenly Father; but we buck at that. We don’t want to miss out on anything perceived to be fun. Christians are not to be sitting in a darkened room with a lone candle burning studying scripture all day long. We are to get out and mingle with the masses. Rub elbows with those the world has cast aside. We are being set apart for God’s use. It’s a serious responsibility we have, yet a small price to pay for a clean slate. It is also a price we can ill afford to pay. We owe our lives to the payer of our debt, Jesus Christ, who will continue to sharpen us as stone to steel, as we allow Him to. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* sanc•ti•fi•ca•tion 1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use. Consecration is also a word that can be used for this process; a setting apart for God’s use.

The Unconditional Love of God

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

                  Nelson Rockefeller once said, “Never forget that the most powerful force on earth is love.”  1 John 4:8 says, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:16 says, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” It stands to reason that the most powerful force would be identified with the most powerful being.  God is All-Powerful, as in Omnipotent! There is no greater power in existence than the power God has. The power of LOVE is far-reaching and eternal because God is eternal and is everywhere at one time. Therefore, there is an aura of love that exists everywhere. Sometimes it is concealed by the emergence of evil, but the potential for love to burst forth is always there.

                  So, our verses for today point out that nothing in existence can pry us from God’s far-reaching love. He HAS and WILL always love us. He may not like what we think, say, or do all the time, but it won’t keep him from loving us. God loved us before we were conceived in our mother’s womb.  

                  I thought of something today … I know God loves me unconditionally and always will. You know why? Because if my wife can love me unconditionally despite the inane and silly things I say and do at times, I know that God has an even greater capacity to love me without conditions being placed upon that love. I also love my wife with an abiding and unconditional love; she is a great lady!

Do you feel that way about your spouse? Do you understand that you are loved by your Maker and nothing will ever change that? Believe it … embrace it as a fact. YOU ARE LOVED!! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

                  

THE SIN SACRIFICE

 

Romans 3:22b-24 “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20 “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”

1 John 1:8-9 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

 

          It’s true, we are sinners. We always have been. Even after our sins are washed clean by the blood of Christ, we still sin. We must accept this as fact to truly understand what Christ has done for us, for without Christ we would simply live and die in our sinful state with no hope of redemption. Think about what Christ has done. Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, but also God Himself as part of the Triune Godhead (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). He stepped down from His throne, became man and willingly went to a criminal’s death on a cross for you and me. There are none righteous … NONE. If we don’t believe that then we are deceiving ourselves. We cannot save ourselves. We are unable to pay the sin debt owed to Almighty God. Our hearts are dark and wracked with evil. Left to our own devices we would crawl back to sin like a dog returns to its’ vomit. We need a savior, and we have one. 

          Jesus Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice for all mankind. He bore our sins and the weight of them was excruciating. His temporary separation from the Father was agonizing. He went to hell and came back with the keys to death and the grave. His resurrection completed God’s plan for the redemption of all creation. However, some feel they aren’t in need of forgiveness. They say Christianity is for the weak-willed, the feeble minded. It’s for those who cannot pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and make it on their own in this life. Some folks believe in anything but that which can truly set them free. Our free will to choose allows that. What a sad day it will be when Christ comes, and millions are left behind because they refused to see what was laid out right in front of them. Search your heart and ask God to reveal Himself to you, for He doesn’t wish that any perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The clock is ticking. 

          For the believer, your sin has been removed. Your sin debt has been paid in full. Rejoice in the fact that God’s love is so great and unending that He bought you with His own blood to redeem you from yourselves. We can do nothing without Christ, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Hand of God

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear ^[1], for I am with you; do not be dismayed ^[2], for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

          What encouragement the second portion of this verse should provide to us in our most critical times, when fear and dismay tend to kick in. We are essentially told we have no need to feel anxious, concerned, or alarmed. We are told to not lose our courage or resolve. In the face of so many disheartening events that could potentially come at us, we are told that our Heavenly Father will strengthen us and help us; He will lift us up and be our salvation in our most desperate times. Sometimes our worst enemy is ourselves. We overreact to those things that we see or perceive to be a reality. Our adrenaline kicks in and our emotions are quickly off to the races. We no longer need to be engaged in that. We should take a deep breath, exhale slowly and know in our spirit that God sees what is happening and has things under control. We may get buffeted about, but we will also come out stronger in our faith if we rely on God to help us.

           The Bible gives God human characteristics, in this case a hand. Now God is a spirit so He cannot have a hand, but so we can visualize Him and the assistance He will give us, we see it in scripture as something we can relate to, a hand. When people help one another, they “give them a hand”. So, we can see in our minds eye the figurative righteous right hand of God helping us in our most critical time of need. It helps us see it a lot better than just telling us God will help us. God loves each and every one of us and wishes to help us succeed in this life for Him. True success is not measured in monetary or materialistic terms. It is measured by character and how we utilize the things God has given us. Everything we have is on loan to us: our bodies, our lives, our money, and our families. God gave them to us. We are to treat them with the same respect we are to show God Himself. We have nothing to fear in this life. The only thing we should fear is God and even that fear is found in our reverence and awe of Him, not being afraid of Him. He knows our current circumstances and will help us in our times of need. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] fear - 1: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger 2: anxious concern 3: profound reverence and awe especially toward God 4: reason for alarm: danger.

^[2] dis•may - 1: to cause to lose courage or resolution (because of alarm or fear) 2: upset, perturbed.

DON’T BLAME GOD

“The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes]; Then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself].” – Proverbs 19:3 Amplified Bible

            Mortal man doesn’t fully understand that which is fairly easy to understand. When an unfortunate event takes places either personally or on a grander scale, one of the first things man says comes in the form of a question: “Where was God? He could have kept this from happening.” Perhaps it’s a person’s cancer-riddled spouse or child. Perhaps it’s being scammed in some financial deal. Maybe it’s a car accident or getting let go from a job. It might be a devastating storm that takes lives and property. Never once does man consider it could be the consequences of some choice they had made. Even Christians, often feel the need to blame someone. Why not God? He has the power to keep anything bad from happening to us.  Check out the Gospel account of Christ’s crucifixion:  “In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, ‘He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”… (Matthew 27:21-23)

                  God didn’t save his own Son from death on a cross.  That’s because there was a specific purpose for that event to take place when it did. And there is a specific purpose for that which happens in your life and mine also. If you have the idea that once you become a Christian nothing bad will ever happen to you, you are sadly mistaken. Trials are sent our way as a means of initiating spiritual growth. They are used by God to expand our faith, which enhances our trust in the Almighty. 

                  If an ill spouse that you’ve been praying for passes away, don’t get resentful or angry with God. He answered your prayers for healing, just not the way you wanted them answered. They shall be in heaven where they will never be sick again. God’s will is perfect. He knows what’s best and is asking us to trust him in that regard. So don’t blame God for anything. Don’t blame anyone or anything. Everything happens for a reason and God controls all things. It’s simple reality, but we bypass the simple and try to complicate it. It doesn’t have to be that way. Accept the fact that we are human and far from perfect. And know that God shall never fail any of us. The wheels in heaven are turning right now preparing the exact solution you need for your situation. Be patient and know that your answer will come exactly when you need it most.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: www.biblegateway.com; The Life Application Study Bible.

The Lord is with you … always

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.”  – Proverbs 15:3 New American Standard Bible

            There are a few verses that show, at least from a scriptural perspective, that the Lord God is always watching over us. He knows our comings and our goings. He knows before anyone else where we go when we try to engage in an act that is wrong. Unsaved people either don’t know this about God or know and don’t care. The Holy Spirit provides conviction as a means of steering us clear from that which is not in our best interest. We are not stopped from doing whatever we wish to do, but God makes it known thru his Word that not all things are constructive or beneficial for us.

                  “Nothing ever escapes the notice of God, so nothing ever surprises Him. He always has the right plans in place to accomplish precisely what He desires—for reward or for judgment.” ⁽¹⁾ This speaks to God’s omniscience. He literally knows all things before they can be known. This is meant to help us understand that he cares for us so much that he has his eye on us to protect us. As if it weren’t enough that he knows where we are 100% of the time; he also knows our deepest thoughts and our most specific motives before they come to fruition. 

            If you have a personal relationship with God you will live a life that is pleasing to him and never have anything to fear when it comes to your thoughts, words, actions or reactions. You are safe under his umbrella of grace. Should you make an error in judgment you can ask the Lord to forgive you and he will. He also keeps no record of wrongs. Hebrews 8:12 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Psalm 103:12 New Living Translation “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: www.biblegateway.com

Note: More verses that speak of God’s eyes always being on us: Proverbs 5:21“For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths”; Job 31:4 “Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?” Job 34:21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.” Jeremiah 16:17 “For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.”  Jeremiah 32:19 “… great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;” - NIV Study Bible Notes

This refers to God’s omniscience.  (1 Sam 16:7; 2 Chr. 16:9; Job 24:23; Ps. 33:13–15; 139:1–16; Jer. 17:10.) – MacArthur Study Bible  

 ⁽¹⁾ From the Charles F Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes.

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE

 

Jan 1st. New beginnings. A fresh start. Resolutions. Personal Assessments. How will you allow yourself to grow spiritually? Will this new year be the 'same old same old', or will you attempt to branch out into new areas of influence. Being a Christian involves constant change. Growth. Bolstering your faith. Remember, NOTHING is impossible for Almighty God; therefore, nothing is impossible for you. Stretch your faith. Expand your trust in the Lord. Look toward the future with confidence as you continue on your journey to be more like Christ in every aspect of your being. You will be challenged, but that's alright. That's healthy. You should never sit still, because when you sit still you are losing ground because others are passing you by. Pick up the gauntlet and continue on in the race. Never give up. Listen to His still small voice and act accordingly. Growth will come as you press forward. Press on even when the enemy comes against you. The Creator is far greater than His creation and the enemy of our soul is a created being just like us. Enjoy the holiday and remain focused on that which is most important. All praise to the One and only King of the universe, Almighty God, the great I AM THAT I AM. May this new year bring you peace, and prosperity even as your soul prospers. Amen ... may it be so. And may God's will manifest itself in your life this year. In Jesus name. Amen. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries