Taking a Look at Prayer 10

“Never stop praying.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ^NLT

            By Paul saying this, he is not implying that we are to pray continuously throughout the day without stopping. That is impractical and not at all what he means. It is more of an attitude of prayer that we can have at all times. This is our way of acknowledging our complete and total reliance on our God. We must recognize that his presence is within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Once we fully realize that he is with us always, wherever we go, then we will realize that what is meant here is short, spontaneous prayers frequently offered up throughout one’s day. This should become a natural thing to us, like breathing.

            While there is no doubt that we become tired of praying for something or someone repeatedly at times, we are to never stop praying for that thing or person. That is another meaning that can be derived from today’s verse. Our PERSISTENCE in prayer is an expression of our faith in God and his ability and willingness to answer our prayers. Don’t allow your faith to wane if the wait for the answer is long, for delays only mean God is working out his will in the situation.

            We must understand that God is always with us in the present and is always listening. His answers are either yes, no, or not yet. We mustn’t allow our desires to override God’s plan for us for his will is inextricably tied to the forthcoming answer. You may be assured that an answer to your prayer(s) is forthcoming. Everything in this life takes time, even answers to prayer. Patience is required. We are in a hurry, God is not. He knows how long things will take yet doesn’t tell us because prayer is a lesson in faith, like so many other things in life. Trust God and do not fret or be concerned. This is where the peace that passes all understanding comes in. ^{[Philippians 4:7]} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Taking a Look at Prayer 9

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”- Matthew 5:44 NIV

                  This is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Jews of Jesus day were expecting the Messiah to be a military leader because they wished to retaliate against Roman oppression. In their minds he was to lead a revolt that would end the Roman rule over Israel. Unfortunately for them, this is not at all what God had in mind. Jesus taught the people to respond to injustice with love. He wished them to give out justice and mercy rather than to receive it. This was offensive to many Jews who wanted revenge, but God specifically says “vengeance is mine” [Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19]. Take note that it is said in the OT and quoted from the OT in the Letter to the Romans by Paul. 

            There is much persecution taking place in the world at this time. It’s easy to say God will avenge the injustice done to us until it becomes real; until it happens to you or someone you love. It is then you want revenge. This is a normal human reaction, but remember, we are not of this earth. We are just passing thru on our way to glory.  The previous statement adds some color to the thoughts of the Jews back in Jesus’ day. They were not feeling the least bit merciful, so you now can see why many were having a problem seeing Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the OT scriptures as the Suffering Servant ^{(Isaiah 52:13-53:12).}

            The power of prayer is supremely great! An enemy is afforded the same forgiveness as a Jew. Especially since Israel rejected Jesus, which resulted in the grafting into God’s family of any and all non-Jews, aka, gentiles. [Romans 11:11-36] It is not for us to say who should and/or shouldn’t be saved from their sin. It was freely offered to us, and we are no better or worse than a hardened criminal in God’s eyes. We must pray and ask our Lord to help us see all others as HE sees them … always. Our natural inclination to judge others works against us as we strive to walk as Christ walked. This is why we must pray and seek to put on Christ’s disposition and behavior. This can be a very difficult command to honor and while not obeying will not deny us entrance in heaven, it is expected of us. Just think of how many lives the Lord can change thru an obedient heart. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Scripture notes for the text; The Life Application Study Bible.

Taking a Look at Prayer 8

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”- Matthew 6:6 ESV

                  It should be considered a privilege and honor to get alone with our God and commune with him in prayer. Meeting with him daily should be one of the most important things that takes place during that day. It may not be possible to shut yourself up in a small, private room or closet, but your place of private prayer could easily be in your car once you’ve arrived either home from work or at your destination during that particular day or evening. 

                  It is not so much where we pray as WHY we pray. It is the attitude of our heart that should drive our desire to commune with our God. The Pharisees were the example of how NOT to pray as they should on public street corners and raised their voices in prayer so as to appear pious in a display of their supposed religiosity. While there are times when we will pray in public, private conversation with God should take precedence in our lives. It is our way of revitalizing our souls and tapping into the power that IS God.

                  Nothing we do is unseen by our Lord. Our secrets shall be seen & heard clearly by him. This includes our prayers.  He most assuredly will hear us when we pray and will answer as he sees fit to give us the biggest benefit and blessing. Our prayers should be according to his word and not out of our own predetermined or prejudicial feelings. This is why we must read and learn the meaning of scripture. 

                  Having a humble spirit is emblematic of proper Christian living. It needs to spill over to every aspect of our walk with Christ, for it is how he lived … with a humble spirit … humble unto death. Prayer is a critical component in a Christian’s life. Do not take it lightly. Put the proper emphasis on its practice and you will reap the benefits of a closer walk with God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.knowingjesus.com

Taking a Look at Prayer 7

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”- John 17:15 ^NIV

            In this verse Jesus is praying to the Father for his disciples. It would be a wonderful thing to be removed from this world once we become reborn, but that isn’t how it works. Now it’s a fact that the world is typically at odds with believers in Christ. * The reason is quite simple: our values differ from theirs. We refuse to join in the sin that is prevalent in this world, therefore, we are living, breathing indictments of the world’s immorality. The agenda the world follows belongs to Satan, Christ’s greatest enemy.

            If Jesus asked for God’s protection for all Christians from Satan, then we can count on the fact that we’re protected. We have a glimpse of this protection found in Job 1:10. Satan seeks to test one of God’s children. God mentions Job, his obedient servant. The enemy says, naturally Job is going to fear God (as in revere or be in awe of), because the Lord had placed a hedge or wall of protection around him, his family, his property, his possessions. Remove all protection, says Satan, and see if he curses you. Well, we know from the account in the Book of Job that he doesn’t. 

            I present to you the thought that we have no idea how many calamities God has spared us from because of his hedge of protection. You see, the devil is a toothless lion. He can do nothing to God’s children without God’s permission. However, all bets are off if one doesn’t know the Lord. God is not obligated to save or protect anyone who isn’t his child. Give praise to God for his mercy and his protection for Christ prays for us continuously. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* By saying that I’m not saying that every non-Christian finds all Christians weird and distasteful. What I am saying is that the world (generally speaking), is pretty much diametrically opposed to Christianity and Christ’s teachings. Those who embrace the world and all their ideologies, find Christianity restrictive and negative with regards to the life they are living. They are focusing on the here and now and never on the bigger picture.

Taking a Look at Prayer 6

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”- John 15:7 ESV

 

                  Here we have a statement made by Jesus to his disciples at the Last Supper.  It is instructional in nature. It is also what is called an “if-then” clause. If you do thus, and so, then as a result this will happen. There is a basic understanding that if you follow the Lord’s example you will be blessed. If you love the Lord it stands to reason that you will love his word (the Bible). If you love his word you will know his word. If you know his word you will have a written guide regarding how to live which will line up with God’s personal will for you.

                  Once again, it stands to reason that if your heart is in the right place you won’t be wishing for a Maserati (expensive Italian sports car) or a 1 million dollar home, for while they are just material things and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with wanting or owning these items, I dare say most people don’t really need such items and nothing good would come of owning them in the long run (my opinion).

                  We have the words “and it will be done for you”, but this is a conditional phrase; the back end of the “if-then” clause. It might be done right away, or you may have to wait for what God considers to be the appropriate time to receive your answer. Knowing all that can be known entitles him to make that judgment. We get antsy and impatient like small children on Christmas Eve when we have to wait. The unknown can be frustrating. Ask what you will and then wait for the answer as long as it takes for God to administer it. It’s manifestation will usually be a wonderfully exciting thing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 5

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”- Philippians 4:6 ESV

            Anxiety appears to be a common problem for people, even believers in God. We allow that which we see to dictate how we feel emotionally. Let’s face it, humans are emotional creatures. Some show it more excitedly than others, but I think it is safe to say that we’re all emotional, especially when things go wrong in our lives.

             The Lord tells us not to be anxious about anything, but rather pray about everything with a thankful heart. Remember, God looks at the heart, not what lies on the outside. We overreact to situations, but we truly don’t need to. What God says he means so when he tells us not to be anxious, concerned, or worried, that means he has provided a way to remain calm even in the most trying of times.

            Prayer is really just talking to God.  How often do we make the time to talk to God AND then also take the time to listen, giving the Holy Spirit time to minister God’s wisdom to our hearts? Must we really be in such a hurry that we avoid that which can take our anxiety away and fill us with peace. Now if you are bound and determined to worry and fret about things, then there may be no help for you. Oh, make no mistake about it, the help is there, but you won’t avail yourself of it. Don’t allow the enemy to erode your faith and trust in the Almighty for Satan is a liar and will do whatever he can to spiritually neuter you. Stand strong and place your unwavering trust in God, for he hears your prayers and answers them in due time. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 4

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”- Jeremiah 29:12 NIV

            How would you like to be told that you would be going into captivity in a foreign land for 70 years? I can’t say I would like that very much at all. But that is the message God gave Jeremiah to share with the people of Israel. He also let them know that after that time had passed the Lord would bless them with all the things he had promised them. 

                  Israel is a great example of our own walk with the Lord. With all the times they turned their back on God, he still loved them … without conditions placed upon that love. Think of King David … adulterer, murderer, general disobedience mixed in with being an incredible man of God and was referred to as a man after God’s own heart ^{[Acts 13:22]} and the apple of God’s eye ^{[Psalm 17:8]}. 

                  God’s promise to Israel and by association believers today is that when we call on God and pray to him, he listens. What a wonderful promise. No matter who you are or how undeserving you may think you are, you are no better or worse than the rebellious Israelites or the adulterous, murderer King David. Make no mistake, their sins had dire consequences associated with them, but the punishment was meted out of love. You see, God knows what is best for us and while we CAN go our own way, he tries to guide and direct us by his Holy Spirit. The spirit was with David for he did many mighty deeds in the name of God. The Lord was also with the people of Israel and performed great things on their behalf. 

                  Know that when you pray your prayers are heard by the creator of the universe. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 3

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”- 

2 Chronicles 7:14 ^NIV

            Israel has a long history of turning their back on God. In the 6th chapter of 2nd Chronicles, King Solomon asked God for provisions for the people when they sinned. God placed 4 conditions necessary to receive forgiveness: 1) humble themselves by admitting they had sinned; 2) pray, asking God for forgiveness; 3) continuously seek the face of God and 4) make a 180 degree turn from their sinful lifestyle. 

True repentance is a lot more than just lip service … it’s changed behavior. Scripture tells us God looks upon the heart of an individual and not the exterior ^{[1 Samuel 16:7 NIV]}. It’s also what he looks at when we pray. Do we pray from a sincere and humble heart, or do we have some sort of agenda that drives our prayer? Remember, the Lord knows everything that can be known, so there is no fooling him. Our prayers, when coming from a heart that is hungry after God, shall be answered. The timing of the answers is known only to our Lord. Patience while waiting is very important. If we rush ahead of God, we will likely miss the blessing that comes with a perfectly timed, God-given answer. 

If we prayerfully repent as the Israelites did God will hear us and forgive our sin(s). This also applies to our great nation. If we corporately do that which is described in scripture than our land will be healed. We must pray for our needs, the needs of our friends, our loved ones, our government officials and so on, so as to bring about change, albeit slow change, but change, nonetheless. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Prayer 2

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ^NIV

            Because the topic is prayer, I would like to focus on the phrase “pray without ceasing”. Now I’d like to clarify that phrase if I may. I think it should be fairly obvious that we are not being told to pray continuously to the exclusion of all else. It means to never stop praying. God never takes time off, so by following his example, we are not to cease praying when things are going well for us. We are to pray in bad times and praise in good times. We are to pray for others and not just ourselves. 

            Prayer is a powerful weapon in our arsenal. God is multi-dimensional … ever-present, able to move and flow allowing him to know all things that can be known. Therefore, he knows what we will ask prior to our asking and has the ability to answer when the time is best and most advantageous for us. 

            I think praying without ceasing means that there is no situation that we cannot pray about. We should never be hesitant to seek God regarding anything. Look at the two phrases that act as the bread to the prayer sandwich … “rejoice always” & “give thanks in all circumstances”. We are not to rejoice & give thanks only when things are going well for us. We are to rejoice & give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, which implies that we will go thru times of trouble. Let’s face it, we can always find something to praise the Lord about; for the air we breathe, the food we eat, for life itself. 

            We must have confidence that our prayers are heard as they are spoken and not forgotten. Since it is impractical to think we can pray at all times, I believe we can most wholeheartedly be in a prayerful attitude, being ready at a moment’s notice to lift something or someone up to his throne of grace. So remember, pray for any and all things according to God’s specific will for your life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

In this series regarding Prayer I will be taking fairly common verses regarding prayer and expanding upon them. I hope you enjoy this series.

 

Taking a Look at Prayer 1

 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” - 1 John 5:14 NIV

            Did you know you can be certain that you will receive eternal life? It’s not based on any feelings, thoughts, or inadequacies you feel you may have. It’s based on God’s promise that we would receive eternal life through the blood shed by his Son Jesus Christ. Our walk with God ebbs and flows throughout our lives. We have good days and bad days. We have days when we feel spiritually strong and days when we feel like Samson after his hair was cut off. It’s not about us! It’s about what has been done FOR us. Remember that when you are down in the dumps. His love and forgiveness are unconditional.

            The notion of getting anything we ask for is largely misunderstood because of the individual’s blind eye to the phrase “according to his will”. This particular verse just says, “he hears us”, not that he gives us whatever we ask for. Verse 14 says, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” The way to know what pleases God is to read his word. 

The Apostle James wrote his letter “to the ‘twelve tribes’ scattered abroad”. He had something to say about not receiving what you ask for from God. In James 4:3 he declares, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” It is vital and required that what we ask for is according to the will of God for us as individuals. God has a corporate or general will for all believers, such as speaking the gospel message to an unsaved world.  He also has an individual will based on the gifts he has given you. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Mine are writing, preaching, teaching, encouraging, serving, and praying. It’s taken me years to hone them into usable gifts. If you pray to your heavenly father according to what you know, not think, but know your gift(s) are, then you shall receive what you seek … when God chooses to answer you. His timing is impeccable, so don’t lose faith. Patience is a trait that is learned by waiting for God to move. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

e·ter·ni·ty

  (ĭ-tûr′nĭ-tē)

n. pl. e·ter·ni·ties

 

1. Time without beginning or end; infinite time.3.

    a. The timeless state following death.

    b. The afterlife; immortality.

 

Isaiah 40:28 - “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

No goal in this life is as important as our heavenly calling, which is to spend eternity with our Lord and to invite as many people as possible to the same glorious future. As C. S. Lewis wrote, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.” (https://www.liftupjesus.com/what-does-eternity-really-mean/)

It matters not what men nor devils say or do. God continues steadfast in His plan and purpose. He is perpetual and never changes. With God there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning" Jas.1:17. His foreknowledge is perfect. "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the ages" Acts 15:18. (https://www.tentmaker.org/articles/EternityExplained.html)

Eternity literally means “timelessness.”  It refers to the nonexistence of time.  God lives outside of time and is not limited by time.  Although the universe he created is in time, God is not.

A. W. Tozer comments, “Time marks the beginning of created existence, and because God never began to exist it can have no application to him.”  He continues, “Time is known to us by a succession of events.  It is the way we account for consecutive changes in the universe.”

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://www.toughquestionsanswered.org/2009/04/28/what-does-eternity-mean/

What is salvation?

            Salvation is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences, namely spiritual death, and permanent separation from Almighty God. It’s considered a personal experience because each person in existence must receive forgiveness for all the wrong they have done according to God’s Law. It is an individual event in that each individual must receive salvation for themselves and no one else.

            A person’s life is changed the moment they seek forgiveness with a heart that is pure, sincere & filled with regret for past sins. God then cleanses you from the inside out. Your outward appearance means nothing to God, he looks upon your heart. It is what’s on the inside that is changed and that causes the outside to change. How you feel after this personal event is different for everyone, because we are all uniquely created different. No two people are exactly the same. People that know you will begin to notice a change in you and will usually tell you. To maintain your spiritual growth you must feed your spirit man or woman. Otherwise you will slowly slide back into old worldly habits. 

            All this is tied to faith and trust. You must believe in the existence of an unseen deity who created you and loved you enough to have a payment plan set up at the dawn of time … a one time permanent blood sacrifice in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ. Blood is required to pay for sin. The OT used the blood of goats, bulls and lambs to cover sin. Christ’s NT blood sacrifice was meant to cleanse or remove all sin once for all time. That is what salvation truly is. Once we are saved we become a new creation. All old things pass away, all things become new. Without question THAT is something to get excited about! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Why Did Jesus Have to Die for Our Sins?

                  To say, “Jesus died for our sins,” is really to say, “Jesus died because of our sins.”.  Romans 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” According to scripture we were all sinners committed to a death sentence with no way to stop sinning and no way to remove the sin. By His immeasurable grace (undeserved favor) Jesus willingly and willfully chose to die in our place. Jesus took the full punishment that was due us on Himself. His was a substitutionary death, in that He substituted Himself for us. As if all that wasn’t enough, He prayed that we would be forgiven. Since Jesus paid the debt we owed, God forgave all who have placed complete and unwavering trust in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:1-10)

                  Christ’s death and resurrection means that whoever places their faith in Him will have total access to the Father. John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is “… the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru me.” Sin created a chasm between man and God … Christ bridged that chasm.  Upon Christ’s death all the OT sacrifices were made null and void. Those sacrifices were temporary anyway, having to be repeated annually for the forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 10:10 makes it clear: “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Christ was the remedy for annual atonement.

                  Christ’s death and resurrection means we’re guaranteed forgiveness when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Galatians 3:22 says, “the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” 1 Peter 3:18 proclaims: “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” May God’s grace and mercy be yours this day and may your faith in Him never falter. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries                 

Where IS God?  

 

The Bible teaches us that God is not limited by physical space. In fact, King Solomon acknowledges this in 1 Kings 8:27, saying, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” Even the grandest temple cannot contain God. He is too big, too powerful, and too vast to be confined to a physical place. Also, the Bible describes God as being omnipresent, meaning that God is present everywhere at all times. In Psalm 139:7-10, King David writes, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” This passage makes it clear that there is no physical place where God is not present.

                  Our finite minds cannot possibly comprehend the full reality of God. He has no limits. None. It’s almost as if He is an immense blanket that is able to cover all things. He is simply all places at the same time. I don’t know about you, but my mind shorts out when I think about someone being ubiquitous in nature. All places at the same exact time. I am incapable of understanding that. So if He can be everywhere in the now, why would I question His ability to steer my ship in a favorable direction that will provide the greatest benefit for me? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God Doesn't Condemn Us

 

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”- John 3:17                                    

          Pretty much everyone is familiar with John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” But let’s look at the following verse and focus clearly on the words in John 3:17. God loved us before we ever even knew Him. He sent Jesus into this world as part of His salvation plan, as the required payment for our sins (as established in the OT).

 

1 John 4:10 (NIV) “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

 

          In spite of all the judgment passed down by the organized church worldwide, God did not send His son to pass judgment on it. God knew what man’s problem was. He knew his soul’s condition. He knew what was necessary to correct the situation that existed and still exists to this very day. Based on the payment system He Himself set up to pay for ones’ sins (for a sin must be atoned for), blood had to be shed to cover the sin made. The NT difference is that Christ’s blood did what no animal’s blood could ever do; it erased sin rather than covered it up, which is all the OT sacrificial system did for an individual. And the wiping clean was done once for all time. He came to SAVE the world, not CONDEMN it. By its’ own actions, the world has condemned itself. It needs a remedy for its sickness. It needs a Savior. Christ is that savior, the One and only … once for all for all time.

            Your eternal soul hangs in the balance. Whether you receive Christ or not is your own business ... your own choice, for we’ve been given a free will by God. The consequence of rejecting Christ is eternal damnation ... The reward for receiving Christ as your personal and intimate Lord and Savior is freedom from sin and eternal life with our Lord. You make the choice. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Atone defined: To make amends; to reconcile. (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.)

Dining With Sinners

 

“But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious ^[1] sinner,” they grumbled.” – ^{Luke 19:7 NLT}

 

          This is the story of Zacchaeus, a Jewish tax collector for the Roman Government. He was not welcome in common social circles and despised by the general populous for as the text says, Zacchaeus was a “notorious sinner” He was short in physical stature, so when Jesus came to town and was walking by, he scrambled up a nearby tree to catch a glimpse of this supposed Messiah. When Jesus spied Zacchaeus up in the tree, He told him to come down for He would be coming to his house for a meal. The crowd, no doubt predominately Jewish, was not happy with Jesus’ choice.

          Our chosen verse is interesting because it tells us Jesus decided to dine with an ungodly man and his family. Jesus could have chosen anyone in the crowd, but he chose to call out a man that was despised and despicable. This shines a light on Luke 5:31-32, where Jesus said: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

            The verse also shows us the predetermined nature of this tax collector. Zacchaeus was a Jew who was employed by the governing body (the Romans), who were Gentiles, a group that was despised by the Jews. For this reason Zacchaeus was doubly hated. They judged him by what job he had without knowing the man at all. 

            Have you ever shunned someone because of externals, without knowing them? I sure have. Trust me, God knows everything about us … therefore He knows this too. Nothing we think, say, or do shocks or surprises the Lord. We don’t need to be concerned with the external appearance of anyone. Our goal is to be Christ-like in this life. We will fail in this endeavor more times than not. Perfection happens to be unattainable this side of heaven; however, that should never be a reason NOT to strive for it.  Pray for the spiritual ability to see others just as God sees them. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

 

[1] Notorious - widely and unfavorably known; disreputable; infamous.   

Follow God’s Example

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

         Recently I wrote a devotional entitled “God is Love” where I spoke of replacing the word ‘love’ with ‘God’ in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. I said this because the attributes of ‘love’ are the same attributes seen in God himself. Our text for this devotional speaks of “walking in the way of love”. Paul, the writer of Ephesians encourages his readers to “follow God’s example”. God’s love was on full display when Christ took the beating and allowed himself to be nailed to a cross. THAT is love. 

                  Now we aren’t being asked to do all that, but instead are being asked to exemplify love in the following manner:  be patient one with another, be kind, be trusting, be protective, be filled with hope and never stop persevering in love. Conversely, we are not to be self-seeking or easily angered. Never keep a count of wrongs. Do not be envious of others or boastful and proud in an unseemly way.

                  I know I speak a lot about imitating Christ. I do so because it is extremely important to your personal witness to BE Christ to others, rather than simply talk about him. I don’t know about you, but I readily admit I need constant reminders that it’s NOT all about ME.  That leading with actions and following with words (if necessary) is far more effective than the reverse. It is my humble opinion that we cannot read or hear about what Christ went thru for us too often, lest we forget. We are loved far greater than we could ever imagine and more than we deserve, but remember, God looks upon the heart and not external things like we do. We are blessed because of what God did for us. We are blessed because God has chosen to bless us. Always remember, we aren’t blessed by God simply so we are blessed, but so we can be a blessing to others. Embrace this truth and continue to strive to BE Christ to those around you who are outside the family of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Doing What is Good

 

3 John 1:11 “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”

                  That which is evil is contrary to the very nature and will of Almighty God. The consequences of doing evil are almost always destructive, at times even deadly. Instead, copy the kindness and mercy of God in thought, word, and deed. Imitate the behavior of Christ. If you do this, you will show that you are a child of God. 

A believer in God displays his grace, with the strength of Christ and the assistance of the Spirit. Without these we would be unable to do good things according to the will of God. Those who do that which is displeasing to the Lord need to have the attitude of Job when he said, “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” ^{[Job 42:6]} Isaiah, upon seeing God, says “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” ^{[Isaiah 6:5]} Like Job, the prophet Isaiah knew he was unworthy to be in God’s presence. And they were considered righteous men. Those who practice evil are doomed and don’t even know it.

In addition to doing good, one must not hinder others from doing good. This is sinful behavior and is displeasing to our Lord. Let’s make one thing clear, Jesus said only God is good, not himself nor anyone else. ^{[Mark 10:18]} So I must assume that those who are good are of God and not separated from him. Non-believers can do what would be considered ‘good’deeds, but only God knows their true heart’s motivation. Many in this world do good for the recognition it brings them. Pride and arrogance come before a tremendous fall. It is those who surrender their own will in favor of God’s that will be deemed good, righteous, and holy in the end. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

AVOIDING SEXUAL SIN

1 Corinthians 6:18 New Living Translation 

“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”

Morality is one of the key pillars that God sees as vital in a believers life. There is no doubt that we have been given a free will to do as we please, however, every action we are thinking of taking should be tested by asking ourselves these two important questions: “Is what we are thinking of doing going to be beneficial to me?” “Will this thing eventually overpower and enslave me, potentially destroying my testimony for Christ?” 

            When it comes to sexual sin, as in adultery, our thoughts, words, and actions are always extremely selfish. We want what we want knowing deep down inside that it is morally wrong and will ruin our lives and the lives of all the others touched by our actions. Trust me, sadly, I speak from personal experience. I’ve been forgiven by God a long time ago, but the damage was done, and it was and is irreversible. 

Adultery couldn’t care less about the feelings of any other parties. Nobody wins, just like in divorce, which is likely to be the ultimate outcome of your nefarious act. Kids suffer the most, because they are not equipped to handle the emotional devastation that takes place. All this suffering and angst for mere moments of pleasure that is only carnal pleasure … there’s nothing lasting about it at all. 

Being a man, I see the male side of this issue. Generally speaking men are stimulated by visual enticements. Their sexual instincts kick in and they go about seeking something they have no right to in the first place. This is why I often stress that we focus intently on the Lord and his directives and not those worldly temptations that lie all around us. 

So if you feel the pull of some low hanging forbidden fruit, don’t walk, run away in the opposite direction, because nothing good will come of a future association with said fruit. Here are some other verses regarding illicit affairs for you to look up.  Exodus 20:14; Hebrews 13:4; James 4:17; Proverbs 6:32; Matthew 5:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Luke 18:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Mark 7:20-23 and Matthew 15:17-20. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

ARE THERE PHARISEES AMONG US?

 

Matthew 23:1-3 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So, you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.’”  

Are Christians today like the Pharisees of Jesus day? Perhaps in the one instance: they do not practice what they preach.  Talk is cheap.  Show unbelievers your faith by the way you live, and I believe it will have a far greater impact than anything we could ever say to them. Christians become comfortable in their own little personal bubble.  They know and love the Lord yet struggle with the concept of self-analysis.   They’re doing just fine thank you very much and don’t appreciate someone coming along and telling them any different. It’s my feeling that a Christian’s spiritual journey should be in a constant state of flux, never staying the same, always changing for the better.  What good are we to anyone if we stagnate?

It is vitally important that we live out what we believe so the world can see the change that has taken place in our lives; especially those closest to us.  Our changed life should speak loudly to those we spend most of our time with.  Accompanied by a humble spirit, a changed life can speak volumes to those who are seeking.

Jesus didn’t suffer a brutal, torturous death so we could be comfortable.  He did so to bring about change.  Those who have truly repented of their past life and all the sin that had weighed them down are supposed to do a 180 and walk away from that which entangled them prior to their conversion.  To receive forgiveness yet allow no alterations to be made to our inner man makes God’s grace into a cheap thing.  This should not be.  Allow the Holy Spirit to make the changes necessary to become all God intended us to be.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Suffering Servant

 

“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.” – Isaiah 52:13-15

            These verses give us a glimpse of Jesus prior to his appearance on earth. He is “the Suffering Servant” from scripture, for he suffered greatly to fulfill God’s salvation plan, set in motion at the dawning of time. When you read these verses visualize what he must have looked like based on the description given. 

            It’s curious to me that most of the cinematic portrayals of Jesus of Nazareth were of a strikingly handsome man. They would cast white skinned British actors and the like to be Jesus and while the movies themselves were pretty good, Jesus physical appearance was flawed. I think the 2016 Christian movie “Risen” shows Jesus as he could have looked. He was nothing special to look at appearance wise. Very middle Eastern in skin tone and physical appearance. He blended into his surroundings physically, but was very different in his thoughts, words and actions. People were compelled to listen and follow him because he spoke of love, kindness, mercy and compassion to your fellow man. The Holy Spirit was working on people’s hearts. Jesus gave them hope for a better tomorrow, something the religious leaders of the day did not.

            The verses above refer to the time when Jesus was being beaten & tortured by the Roman soldiers. Rome was polytheistic society; therefore the soldiers would have believed in a multitude of gods, such as, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva or perhaps no god at all. It was part of their culture. The soldiers were brutes who enjoyed exerting their will against others, so beating Jesus was no doubt sport for them. When all was said and done, once Jesus hung on the cross and the sky turned black, all were left to wonder just who this man Jesus was. When a bolt of lightning cracked thru the sky causing the temple curtain to be torn from top to bottom, giving men open access to Almighty God, there was little question to many just who Jesus Christ truly was. His resurrection and the spreading of the gospel message shook the world at that time to its core. Was he the Son of God as it had been said? You bet he was and his sacrificial death bought all of us our freedom from the bondage of sin. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Consistent Living

Psalm 119:1-2“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart ….”

As we walk through this life we are confronted with many challenges. Some things challenge our morals, some our ethics and still others our very belief in Almighty God. It’s only as we seek Him with all our heart on a daily basis that we can withstand the pressures we find ourselves confronted with. If we strive to follow God’s standard as laid out in scripture, we will be successful in this life. Not success as the world knows it, but true success as ordained by our Heavenly Father. Due to our forgiven status, we are seen as blameless in His eyes. As we walk with the Lord, we gradually become more and more like Him in all our ways. This makes us a positive, wholesome example for those around us who have never surrendered their will to God. Living a genuine, consistent Godly life among the lost will do more good for the kingdom than any words we could say. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

HOW MUCH FAITH DO WE REALLY NEED?

 

            What would you think if every time you asked God for something you received it instantly? Would you like that? Does that require faith? Perhaps there are different kinds or levels of faith. Let’s think about that ….

            If you KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that every time you asked something of God you would instantly receive what you requested, I suppose it would be faith in the form of asking in the first place. It wouldn’t be a large amount of faith because you already were assured of the outcome. But what if what you were requesting wasn’t God’s best? What if it was actually BAD for you? Maybe that’s why ALL our requests are NOT answered instantly in the affirmative. 

            Scripture tells us that faith as small as the smallest seed from biblical times (the mustard seed ^{[Luke 17:6]} … which was said to be approximately the size of a pin head) is all that is needed to move a mountain. (Do you think Jesus meant that literally?) Any faith in God at all is acceptable to the Lord. “We don’t need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive and growing.” ^[1]

            Having said that I believe it takes deep, abiding faith to wait as long as it takes to receive an answer from God, never even knowing if an answer will come. Not greater faith, but long standing faith. Faith that has stood the test of time. Faith that has not wavered in the face of tribulation. You see, we don’t need a mountain of faith to succeed in God’s world, just a modicum. *

            Don’t wish for things that are non-essential to your life. They may be harmless and there is no sin in seeking them. Instead seek those things that will enhance your life spiritually. Seek personal enrichment in the things of the Lord. Read his word … even one verse, paragraph or chapter will help you begin to think along the lines that will lead to spiritual growth. Trust God regardless of the appearance of things around you. Remember, the Creator is far superior to his creation. Nothing can defeat God and by extension, nothing can defeat us if we draw close to God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Modicum - A small amount of something.

[1] Page 2243 - verse notes for Luke 17:6 - Life Application Study Bible. 

 

NOTE: You can BE anything you choose to be today, so BE KIND.