The Word of God

Psalm 119:33-37 “Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”

           While this is considered by many to be one of David’s Psalms for structural and content reasons, his name doesn’t appear in the beginning as the author, so it is generally considered one of the “orphan psalms”. It is the longest chapter in the Bible at 176 verses and has long been read for its’ inspiration.

          The writer implores God to teach him His ways. Key words are littered through these four verses: teach me, give me understanding, direct me, turn my heart, and turn my eyes. The writer is asking God to act on his behalf for a specific reason; he wants to follow God’s decrees, keep His laws, and not turn toward selfish gain or worthless things. How badly do we all need to pray this for ourselves? I know I have stumbled badly throughout my walk with God and need to commit these verses to memory and then live them. Saying these words and following through are two completely different things. Our world is filled with distractions that draw us away from the things of God. We become so easily entangled with obligations and chores, leaving little time to seek God. It is in God that we find what we are truly looking for and need so badly: peace, contentment, comfort, love, forgiveness, mercy. These are found in no one else.

          Once we get into the word of God and allow it to speak to us, it will change our perspective on things. Sure, we must tend to things during the day, but we needn’t allow those things to dictate our lives. Within the Bible lies a wide variety of truth, inspiration, wisdom, encouragement, and guidance to last a lifetime. Let God into your daily life. Seek His face and pray for others. Watch God work as you rely a little more on Him each day.

 

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

 

          The word of God can speak to the human heart like nothing else can. It’s God’s instruction manual for life. Let it minister to you in the deepest part of your heart and soul. Allow your spirit to connect with the Spirit of God and feed on His wisdom. His word will give you strength and encouragement even in your darkest hour. God is with you wherever you go ^{(Joshua 1:9)}. He will not forsake or abandon you ^{(Deuteronomy 31:6)}. God can be relied upon, just like His word, to take you in life where you need to go for His glory.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Two Kinds of Wisdom

 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” - James 3:13

            James 3:13-18 speaks of two kinds of wisdom, although I personally hesitate to refer to the second type as ‘wisdom’ at all. If you have a bitter, envious, selfish attitude, it didn’t come from the Lord, but rather his evil counterpart, Satan. With envy and selfish ambition comes nothing of a positive or godly nature. These negative attributes produce chaos and disorder in due time. Sadly, even those who call themselves Christians can be prone to this type of attitude. 

                  The way to combat these attitudes is to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit within you. Emulating Christ is paramount for the believer. Without His example how would we fully know how to live a godly life. Studying scripture will take you so far, but it is easier for some to learn better by seeing a lesson, even if it happens to be in our mind’s eye. Illustrations are plentiful in scripture and help us to know how to live as well. 

                  Real and not fake humility is pretty easy to spot. Doing godly deeds without making a show of it is being humble. Making sure those around you know who you are and what you are doing is not. In Matthew 6:3 Jesus announces the following: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,…”. It’s absolutely NOT important if ANYONE knows what you are doing for another. Deeds done in humility is placing others before yourself. 

                  Though not created for man, sadly the Lake of Fire will be filled with many who professed Christ yet didn’t live for him at all. That’s trampling on God’s grace. It’s like taking a wonderful gift from someone, setting it aside and never opening it. In some cases, not even thanking the person for it. Follow God’s standards daily as you seek to resemble Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

True Friendship

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”- Philippians 1:3 

 

friend noun 1a: one attached to another by affection or esteem.

 

            Although the Apostle Paul is saying this to the church at Philippi, I would like to generalize this scripture to make a point about our own brothers and sisters in the faith; those throughout our lives who have been our friends, not to mention, a wonderful blessing to us through thick and thin. There are those individuals, perhaps family members, perhaps co-workers, someone in your neighborhood or church members, who have meant a lot to our spiritual growth in this life. Some are in our lives for only a short while, a single chapter in our lives, then are gone. They are a true friend to us, and we thank God every time they come to mind. They are encouraging, empathetic, kind, helpful … they are living examples of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. There is a mutual love and respect for one another. No judgment or condemnation comes from their lips. They are understanding and supportive, no matter what we have gotten ourselves into. That is a true brother or sister in Christ; that is a true friend. They don’t condone misdeeds in any way, seeking to be instructive rather than combative, so as not to hurt us and/or drive us away. When a true friendship has been forged, it cannot be severed by age or distance. 

            We all have someone, perhaps more than one, who falls into that category. Actually, a true friend can be somewhat of a rarity. Frankly, our wife or husband really should be our best, most true friend, in addition to being our lover and life companion. God has blessed us with true friends whom we need to thank Him for. They are stabilizers; they help add structure to our lives. God knows what we need and provides these people in our lives to help lighten our burdens as we walk through this valley of tears called life. May God be praised for His wisdom and compassion, for without the friends who enter our lives, our struggles this side of heaven would be much greater. Hopefully we are that type of friend to someone. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The World for Your Soul

“What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?”- Mark 8:36 

            The world tantalizes with wealth, glitz, glamour and fame. People become slaves to fashion and live paycheck to paycheck chasing that next big event or technological advancement. Their attention is kept focused on anything and everything that promises satisfaction, fun and popularity. The devil is an expert at deceit. Those trifles dangled in front of them are nothing more than a mirage that shall disappear when you need them the most. Christ asks a very poignant question to those following him: what good is it to gain everything and yet have nothing and what good is it to lose your very soul in the process. The time spent chasing after temporal things would have been better spent seeking eternity, for it is in the things that shall NOT pass away that true satisfaction is found. 

            The world scoffs at Christians. ‘Look at all you are missing’, they say. ‘Only the weak-minded need Jesus’, they say, ‘He’s nothing more than a crutch.’ They don’t understand. Perhaps they never will. Christians find hope and peace and true freedom in their relationship with God. It has nothing to do with religion; it is an intimate, personal relationship with our Creator. So, while the world chases after the unattainable, we shall continue to seek God and gain far more in the process than those in the world shall ever possess. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

The Visible Image of God

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation …”. - Colossians 1:15

            If Colossae existed today, it would be in the southern section of modern-day Turkey. The issue in this church was the infiltration of some believers who were attempting to combine elements of paganism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. Paul wrote to combat these errors and show that Christ alone is more than sufficient to meet all a believers’ needs than anything outside God’s standards. This letter was written in approximately 60 AD.

                  The first sentence in verse 15 speaks directly to the divine nature of Christ. Not only is Christ equal to God ^{[Philippians 2:6]}, but ISGod ^{[John 10:30, 38; 12:45; 14:1-11]} by virtue of the saying that he is “the visible image of the invisible God”. Jesus “is and was and is to come”. He was the most intimate part of creation in that he existed prior to there being anything in existence. There is nothing our Lord cannot do for us and is in complete control of everything he has created.

                  Paul spent a good portion of his letter emphasizing that our focus must be on Christ as our sole provider and sustainer. We must also focus on God’s word and not another person’s perception of what God meant with what he said. The standard we must follow is God’s word and his word alone. Worldly philosophies and conjecture re: Christianity will only confuse you, not draw you any closer to God. Draw close to God. Rid yourself of worldly habits that can quickly turn into sin. Praise the Lord with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Praise his name without ceasing, for this is what we are called to do. Until next time walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

The Unconditional Love of God

“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.”- Romans 8:38-39

                  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 WILLalways 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 Death of Lazarus

John 11:25 - “Jesus said to (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
          This is the accounting of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Mary, the one who put perfume on the feet of Jesus on another occasion and her sister Martha had sent word to the Lord that their brother, Lazarus was sick. Take note that Jesus said in response that Lazarus would not die. “When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’” ^{(John 11:4)} Jesus loved all three very much yet stayed where he was two more days. If He had come directly Lazarus might have still been alive and the purposes of God would not have been fulfilled. This is a perfect example of how God knows, and we do not. God says in Isaiah 55:8 “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” God always knows what He’s doing and always knows what is best. The word ‘always’ is an absolute word. It means that God knows each and every time, making no mistakes. God never has to ponder His plans or question Himself. How does He know? He knows because He is omniscient, the knower of all things. There is never a time when God is lost or confused. We are the ones who stumble and fall on our face, not God.  
          Jesus is the source of everlasting life. It is only through Him that we can reach our eternal destination. There is nothing we can do to achieve this on our own. All we must do is believe in Christ; however, it’s a little more detailed than that for even the devil and his demons believe in Jesus and shudder in terror at the mention of His name. ^{(James 2:19)} We must surrender our will to the one true living God. If we do so we will never truly die. Oh, we will die physically, but not spiritually. Our physical tent, which houses our soul and spirit, will turn to dust in the ground, but our soul and spirit shall live on in heaven with God for all eternity.  
          Jesus purposely waited so that Lazarus would die. This way He could reveal the miraculous power of God in the resurrection of His friend. This is what Christ meant when He said what He did in verse 4 shown above. God always knows exactly what He’s doing; therefore, we can absolutely and positively trust Him in all things all the time. Do you believe this? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

The Terrible Day of the Lord

“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”- 2 Peter 3:10 ^NLT

            Scripture tells us that no one knows the hour or the day when the Lord shall return. ^{[Matthew 24:36]} Only the Father knows. Believers in Christ should be anticipating his return as if it were going to be today. Non-believers, who live their lives outside of God’s family, are too busy with other things they deem essential to their lives. That is precisely why they will have no idea what is coming and thus will not be prepared.

                  Knowing that the earth will be burned up, why wouldn’t we place our confidence in that which is lasting and eternal? Being bound to the earth, with its valueless treasures and frivolous pursuits is a sure death sentence. God knows all this which is why his patience with mankind is long suffering. He knows the stubborn ways of man. He knows their rebellious nature. But he loves them just the same and gives them every opportunity to receive forgiveness for their sins.

                  I have said on multiple occasions that we must assess our walk, not compared to anyone else on this earth, but to God himself. Just because perfection is unattainable doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be our goal in this life. Believers should ask themselves this important question: Do I spend more of my time piling up possessions or striving to develop a Christlike character? 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 love anyway?

 

Prior to becoming a Christian I really wasn’t sure how to define ‘love’. I knew it wasn’t ‘sex’, although I believed ‘sex’ to be a pleasant byproduct of ‘love’. I wasn’t told about the ‘birds and the bees’ by either of my parents.  I was left to figure it out for myself.  This produced many awkward encounters with girls while in college.  Guys like to speak of their ‘conquests’ when they are together.  Girls like to talk about how ‘hot’ this or that guy is.  It doesn’t appear to be any different today from when I was a teenager, which was some 55 years ago.  Except now ‘sex’ is in your face pretty much everywhere you turn.

The devil has dumbed down society, anesthetizing people as to what is right & what is wrong.  Those that live for themselves find that ‘anything goes’ works just fine for them.  Those who attempt to follow a certain moral and ethical standard of living, such as the Bible, are ridiculed; the notion being that we are robbing ourselves of untold pleasures by doing so.  

We all need some sort of standard to follow, something that guides and advise us when we don’t know what to say or do.  Many ascribe to the idea “if it feels good do it”.   This is selfish at its core and will only feed a person’s desires for so long until certain sameness creeps into it and they become hungry for something more.   Unbridled emotions when left unchecked will lead you to places you never intended to go.  By the time you’ve realized what you’ve done, the consequences of your words and actions may have already buried you. 

It doesn’t have to be that way.  God never intended it to be.  Once we come to the realization that surrender isn’t always a bad thing, we can finally begin to live.  Without God we are only going through the motions.  With God we have the opportunity to be all God intended us to be in the first place.  When we surrender to the will of God, there is no telling what we can accomplish in His name.

Love is much deeper than just having deep affection for someone. We can love ice cream, but it isn’t the same type of love that is involved in loving God or someone of the opposite gender. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Easter vs. Resurrection Day

 

Facts about “Easter”

The holiday commonly known as “Easter” is one of the most widespread traditions in professing Christendom. Yet both its pagan and Roman Catholic roots are indisputable—and its observance finds no warrant in the Word of God. When measured by the standard of Scripture, Easter stands condemned as a man-made invention, borrowed from idolatry, and unfit for Christian worship.

Pagan Roots of “Easter” 

 

1. Origin of the Name “Easter”

The name “Easter” comes from Eostre (or Ostara), a pagan fertility goddess worshiped in early Anglo-Saxon and Germanic tribes. Her spring festival celebrated fertility, renewal, and new life. The rabbit and egg were her symbols—representing fertility and reproduction.

 

Note: The Greek word Pascha in the New Testament refers to Passover, not “Easter.” The one appearance of the word “Easter” in Acts 12:4 (KJV) is a mistranslation.

 

2. Spring Fertility Rites

Pagan spring rites honored nature’s rebirth after winter and often included: Eggs (symbols of new life), Rabbits (fertility), Sunrise services (honoring the rising sun, not the risen Son). These customs were not only non-Christian, but directly tied to idolatrous worship and nature-based deities.

 

ROMAN CATHOLIC ROOTS

 

1. Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.)

Rome formally established “Easter Sunday” as a feast to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, separating it from the Jewish Passover. The date was fixed according to pagan lunar calculations: the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.

 

2. Blending Paganism with Christianity

The Church of Rome attempted to “Christianize” pagan spring rituals to attract converts. The result was a religious festival cloaked in Christian terminology, but pagan in spirit and practice.

 

3. Lent and the Easter Season

The 40-day observance of Lent, leading up to Easter, has no biblical basis. It mirrors pagan fasting and mourning rituals (see Ezekiel 8:14—mourning for Tammuz). Events such as Lent, Holy Week, and Good Friday are all Roman Catholic inventions—not apostolic practices.

 

                  To poo-poo this assessment of the holiday and say it’s just innocent fun is to make a mockery of the truth regarding the day. God is not mocked and while celebrating the holiday as the secular world does won’t cause you to lose your salvation and send you to hell, it’s roots in paganism should make you uncomfortable and cause you to change your way of thinking. If you doubt any of this, research the holiday for yourself. On Monday, I will conclude this brief study. The information for this study was provided by a dear sister in Christ whom I’ve known for many years and whose name shall be withheld for privacy reasons. Until next time, walk with the King & 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.

When is a sin no longer a sin?

 

                  Many people have this strange notion that just because they can’t imagine a loving God judging sin, it must not truly be wrong to do. There are so many wrong things people do without a moment’s hesitation. I suppose they think they can just ask God to forgive them and that will make it alright. 

While not a “Christian”, Adolf Hitler had strong feelings about a supreme deity and how His will must be followed. It is said Hitler’s genocide against Jews was his “sacred” mission. That certainly didn’t make it right, for a sin is a sin is a sin. 

The LGBTQ community clings to verses such as “all who call upon the Lord shall be saved”, sidestepping the verses in both the Old & New Testament that declare their lifestyle a sin. We now find that they have their own churches, their own ministers and go thru all the motions of being a believer, but do not alter their lifestyle. Who said that was alright? Scripture is very clear; sin cannot abide in God’s presence. So how is their life acceptable to God? Sadly, it’s not. Our responsibility is to love and pray for those who live a life that is contrary to God’s truth; NEVER to judge, or shun. 

As I have said before in my writings, man desires to be autonomous.  They also desire to make themselves a God they can accept on their own terms. The creature trying to become greater than the creator. That’s simply not how it works. If you doubt me, read scripture. Don’t pick and choose verses that seem to support your way of thinking; read all of it asking God to reveal to you the truth. Have an open mind and open heart to the truth according to the Word of God. 

God isn’t an Ogre or tyrant; He is the loving creator of man. He died, in the form of His Son, to save mankind from their sin … all of them. Just like germs are not acceptable in a sterile environment, so sin is not acceptable in God’s presence. Don’t cherry pick certain verses and base your entire belief system on those handpicked scriptures; read the whole book. 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 those 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 or 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

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?

            I was reading some comments re: why people refuse to believe in God / Christ? The site I visited was “Quora”, which poses a question & anyone can respond. The first person who chimed in was an atheist, who apparently found it amusing that anyone would believe in a book that was fraught with errors & contradictions. He says that it’s “just a book”. Just because someone says God wrote it doesn’t mean He did. 

                  The thing that non-believers never get is that having faith has absolutely nothing to do with proof. Is there such a thing as “absolute truth”? I suppose there are some things that are absolutely true, like the sky being up & the ocean being wet. But technically, & now I am admittedly knit-picking, how do we know our accepted definition of ‘up’ & ‘wet’ is correct? How would we know? Whether something is right or wrong becomes interpretive & relative to each person. My definition of ‘normal’ is relative to what I see & how I see it. What I’ve learned in my life has everything to do with how I interpret things. But what of the things I’ve learned? How would I know if they were true or false? It’s based on the belief system I have developed up to this point in my life. 

                  Everyone has faith in something, but what exactly IS faith? The Bible defines it for us: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ^{[Hebrews 11:1 NIV]} Martin Luther King, Jr said this of faith: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines it thusly: “a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.”

                  Faith is not based on sight. Faith doesn’t require evidence, as in proof. There is no proof to be found. Faith is based on choice. We all have a “free-will choice” to believe in God. A person doesn’t HAVE to believe in God. No one says he does. So now they need to either accept or reject the reality of sin. If a person doesn’t believe in sin then how do they explain the proliferation of evil. What makes man evil? What makes them good? Who defines what is evil and what is good? Wouldn’t those definitions have to be universally true? Who would be qualified to define such things? Can it be man? If you DO believe in the existence of God, then could the creation truly know more than its’ Creator? 

                  Does Christianity seem pretty implausible on the surface? Without reading it ... without giving it a chance to speak to you, I can believe that it would sound pretty wild. But that is what faith is for. 

Every choice we make in life comes with consequences. The decision we make will more times than not dictate what the consequences will be. You can go thru life not believing there is a God, because you have that right. What you may not realize is the GOD GAVE YOU THAT RIGHT. There are consequences associated with the decision to dispel the notion that there IS indeed a higher power that exists in spirit form that loves His creation, in fact, loved it so much that to remedy our problem of disobedience He came to live with us to 1) show us HOW to live, 2) be a loving example to follow, and 3) die in our place so that we might live. 

Now you can laugh it off and say Christianity is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard, or you can investigate on your own to see what it’s all about. Your choice. If Christians are all wrong in what they believe and there is no God, then we’ll all die and rot in the ground, never having another conscience thought, thus never knowing if there is a God or not. BUT if Christians are correct in what they believe, those outside the family of God will know of His existence for all eternity. At that point ones fate has been sealed. There will no longer be redemption available for the wayward soul. Your fate is sealed, and YOU were the one who made that decision. God loves you and died for you. Won’t you choose to live for Him. The alternative is eternal and irreversible. 

Ask God to reveal Himself to you thru His Holy Spirit and until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

THE SOLUTION

                  To have a solution you must have a problem. Sin is the problem. We are guilty of sinning against our Creator. We’re ALL guilty. No one escapes punishment ... unless of course we confess our sins and apply THE SOLUTION to the problem. The solution is Jesus Christ and the blood he shed on the cross. A blood sacrifice is necessary ... Jesus took our place. Once accepted and embraced, Jesus’ blood cleanses us from each and every stain. When you have a problem you need a solution. 

 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SOLUTION!!

 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Be a Non-Conformist

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2 
          The world is a peculiar place. It’s the enemy’s domain where he rules and reigns. Things look so enticing here. We grasp at things that appear to be so lovely only to find out that they are simply not what they appear to be or perhaps not there at all. 
          During our lifetime we tend to open ourselves up to all sorts of pain and misfortune as a result of some of our decisions. This is what happens when God isn’t involved in the decision-making process. God allows us to stumble because we’ve insisted in having our way. We haven’t asked for pain and havoc in our lives, per se, but we HAVE by grasping at something that is not ours for the taking; something that wasn’t sanctioned by the Lord. 
          Those of us who tend to be self-destructive in nature seem to be drawn to situations where pain is inflicted on us. We resolutely accept that we deserve our pain and move on … sullen and downcast, we become nearly useless for the kingdom. We must not allow the enemy a foothold. If we are not a child of God, such poor decisions could potentially start a downward spiral that will take us where we never intended to go.
          Renew your mind through the reading of scripture, proper associations, prayer, involvement in Godly endeavors. You see, if you fill your mind AND your time with such things, you will not give yourself time to entertain such supposed worldly treasures. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

Christianity isn’t a Religion …

 

There are key differences between Christianity and the other major world religions. The Hindus believe all roads lead to heaven. In other words, there are a variety of paths you can take to get to heaven. Is that true? First, we must understand that Hinduism is a world religion that has no origin. No one seems to know when it started or who started it. Buddhism at least has a beginning and a person to point to that started the religion, however, their beliefs are not based on ‘good vs. evil’. No sin, no God, no need for salvation. Islam claims that Christ never really died but rather was sitting at the right hand of God while He only made it appear to the human eye that Christ really died. According to Islam he never really died at all.  So the Bible would then be full of lies and deceit. I don’t believe that for a second, but I suppose that’s the only way they can legitimize their beliefs. To the Islamists Christ was simply another prophet/teacher like Mohammed.

Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship, personal in nature, intimate at its core. It is the only belief system that offers forgiveness for sin and a singular person who performed a selfless act to provide that forgiveness. If any and all paths lead to heaven, then why did Jesus have to die? The notion of there being many ways to achieve heaven minimizes what Christ did for all mankind on the cross. With regard to intimacy, scripture tells us the closer we draw near to God, the closer He draws near to us (James 4:8a). One day we will know even as we are known (1 Corinthians 13:12). Dismiss other schools of religious thought as false and embrace that which you have believed. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

James 4:7-8a … “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 … “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

 

Can a Christian lose their salvation?

 

                  Basically, it would seem that there are those who are truly saved and are attempting to please God with their lifestyle and those who simply SAY they are a Christian, but exhibit ZERO fruit. Oh, they go to church every time the doors are open and belt out the songs with the best of them. They even become deacons or elders. They say all the appropriate things giving the perception that they are a devoted follower of Jesus. But deep inside their heart of hearts, where only God can see, they are not committed as much as it would appear that they are. Many other worldly endeavors crowd out true commitment until they slowly fade away. Call it “flash in the pan” Christianity. Call it whatever you want, but what the Bible calls it “apostasy” … a falling away. 

                  So that would tell me that the “elect” the Bible speaks of those who would actually seek forgiveness and exhibit gratitude for the forgiveness they receive. They are those true, hardcore, followers of God’s Word. The ones who seek to grow spiritually continuously with the help of the Holy Spirit within.  To be honest, Christians are not always ON their game. At times they stumble and slip up. Make no mistake about it, Christians fall into sin, but it isn’t a habitual thing. Our humanness just happens to get in the way of God’s plan for us.

                  So CAN a Christian lose their salvation.  The answer to the question above is YES, CINOs or ‘Christians In Name Only’, can indeed lose their salvation, due to the fact that they more than likely never made the initial commitment to Christ and truly got saved to begin with.  Therefore, technically, they cannot lose what they may have never had.  They declare that they are believers and let that be enough. They hang their hat on the statement that all a person needs to do is “believe”. While that is true, that belief must lead you deeper into the truth of God. Imposters have NO intent to grow. They just ride the Jesus train as long as they feel it benefits them.

The answer to the question is also NO. Those who are TRUE Christians are sealed at salvation for eternity by the Holy Spirit and cannot lose their salvation. You see, the Lord must be preeminent in your life. He must be your all in all. He must mean more to you than life itself, because He is the giver of life. Sure, as I said earlier, even true believers, being human just the same as unbelievers, will sin from time to time, but with them it will be the exception rather than the rule.

Trust God with your everything and strive to know Him more each day by reading His Word and praying regularly.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

HOW DOES GOD LOOK AT UNBELIEVERS?

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” ^{[Ephesians 2:1-5 NLT]}

God’s Word is always true, but sometimes it comes across as confrontational when it exposes our erroneous thinking. One truth that’s often considered challenging is the way God describes the desperate state of those who are without Christ. They are ...

 

Dead in their offenses and sins. Spiritual death came to all people as a result of Adam’s sin, leaving the human race under God’s condemnation.  ^{[Ephesians 2:1]}  

 

Unable to grasp spiritual things. “But the unbelieving man doesn’t accept the teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are absurd and illogical to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters.” ^{[1 Corinthians 2:14 Amp.]} Their minds are darkened, and they cannot understand the things of God. 

 

Outside of God’s family. Spiritually, there are only two families in the world: the family of God and the family of Satan. ``You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” ^{[John 8:44]}

 

Under God’s wrath. Unbelievers, even the ones who are kind and loving, are under judgment because of their unforgiven sins.  ^{[Ephesians 2:3]}

 

Those without Christ are in grave danger and don’t realize it. They need to hear these hard truths before they can see their need of a Savior. Man’s only way to be rescued from an eternal “Lake of fire” is through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ on their behalf.  That’s the only way they can escape God’s wrath and condemnation.  

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source:  https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/how-god-views-unbelievers?s=09

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 of any eternal value 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

NO ONE IS GOOD

 

            With few exceptions the vast majority of people feel they are good. This thought begs a very important question. Who decides what’s ‘good’? It has to be a universal definition that can easily apply to everyone on the planet, one that cuts thru language and cultural barriers. Who on this earth could accomplish this? What’s good for you may not be good for me and so on. There has to be a standard.

         Good is a relative term used far too loosely. Like the word ‘normal’, I would venture to say that everyone has his or her own personal definition of ‘good’. I believe most would admit they weren’t choirboys, but they haven’t robbed a bank or committed murder, so they feel they are good people. They hope they have been good enough to go to heaven when they die.  If they are not the least bit “religious” I suppose they would hope there really is no God.  I have a shocking revelation for you; Jesus himself says no one is good accept Father God. JESUS said that even HE wasn’t good. If Jesus isn’t good than what hope do any of us have to being ‘good’?

         Goodness comes from God. That along with peace, patience, mercy, compassion, love, wisdom, guidance and so on. God is all we will ever need to make it in the life and the one that follows. With God we are children of the most high King. With God we are forgiven. We are proclaimed holy and righteous in his sight. 

         There is no such thing as ‘religion’. The word doesn’t even appear in scripture. The thing I’m speaking about is a relationship of the most personal kind with the Creator of the entire universe and man’s first breath. I’ve walked with the King since March of 1979. The only bumps in the road have been of my own doing, but then God never promised a problem free life. I’m not good, but I am a treasure in the eyes of my Heavenly Father. And so are you if you’ve entered into that relationship with him too. We’re not good and we’re not at all normal and I don’t care. I am who God made me and I’m proud of who I am and whose I am. You should be too. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Mark 10:18 (AMP) “Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially] good [by nature] except God alone.’”