Thoughts from a Random Mind 

Lady Gaga says she is a Christian who was born the way she is. She grew up Catholic and went to a Catholic school. She likes the Catholic service and the homilies, but doesn’t appear to adhere to biblical doctrine very much. She shares that her beliefs are mostly based on self-empowerment and loving others.

Though she says she’s a Christian there’s no talk of Christ or becoming like Him. It would seem as though she has fallen into the trap of defining Christianity in a way that pleases her rather than living a life to please God.

Now I’m not her judge, nor am I ANYONE’S judge. We are allowed to be a fruit inspector; not as a means to judge but as a reason to pray for them. God knows the details in our lives. He and He alone is our judge. He judges on the motivations of the heart. Only God could possibly know that.

The really sad part about Lady Gaga’s story is that if she’s off the mark and propagating skewed biblical teachings, she is unintentionally leading people astray. May she find the true path to righteousness. Be careful who you follow. No one is the correct path but Jesus Christ. Follow Him and live. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

            Recently I went thru a time when I wasn’t going to church. I was thinking too hard about the service and how it was done rather than simply worshipping the King. For some reason I felt the services I attended were stiff and unwelcoming. Was that just the enemy doing a tap dance in my head? I knew nothing was perfect except the Lord Himself, so I was coming to realize that I was looking at church all wrong. 

My wife grew up in an Episcopal Church with their one hour services and brief messages, so she didn’t want to attend a church where the sermon was longer than 20-30 minutes and the service wasn’t longer than one hour. That was the reason she didn’t want to go. Plus she felt they were always asking for money.

Now I’ve been a follower of Christ for 47 years, which doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it’s important to me. I’ve have my highs and lows regarding my walk with Christ, but I feel my faith and trust in God has been steadfast. When my wife said she wanted to go to church on Easter Sunday, I agreed. It was a good, biblically sound message and the service was uplifting. My wife now wants to begin returning to church and I felt this was an answer to prayer. So we’re going to get a little involved and not be so critical of the fellow humans who are striving, just like us, to serve the Lord effectively. 

I knew it was important to attend a bible believing church, for fellowship with others of like faith is vital for your spiritual growth. So I have been a little uncomfortable NOT going. Well, I feel much better now that we’ve both agreed to attend church again. So if you’re like me and you feel there are certain aspects of your church or church in general, and those things make you not want to go, put that aside and worship the Lord regularly. Fellowship is very important. I believe I’ve learned an important lesson. It’s NOT all about me... it’s about God and who I am IN Him. I actually knew that, but forgot. It’s an important thing to remember. Our opinions tend to be flawed in one way or another when it comes to church Mine were and I readily admit that. I love the Lord and always try to be as transparent as I feel is necessary. I’m not perfect, nor am I better than ANYONE else. I know who I am and that’s a good thing. Live your life FOR God taking advantage of all the resources He has placed at your disposal. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

            I saw an interesting quote... “Whether the truth sets you free or not is up to you.” Now I don’t know who said this, but I believe it be a true statement. It HAS to be up to you. If someone gives you a gift and you accept it but never open it so you can apply its usefulness to your life, that would be absolutely up to you. So then what would be the point of believing that the Bible is true, yet not read it and apply its principles to your life. So it IS up to you. 

             If you knew the truth regarding the matters of life and disregarded it, whose fault would it be? I essentially brought up the same point in several different ways to prove a point. That point is that WE are responsible for every decision we make in our lives. We also bear the consequences of the decisions we make. Whether we live in freedom or not is the result of our following the truth, but which truth. There are many folks who have established their own version of the truth based on what they believe. That which we believe comes from acquired knowledge. What are our sources for that knowledge. The Communist Manifesto represents one system of truth that has been pushed on people for decades, but if it has no reference or tie in to Almighty God then we should disregard it as false information.  

            Believe whatever you wish, but understand that EVERYTHING cannot be true. Some things must be either blatantly false, misinterpreted, or simply misunderstood. When we find a path to truth we must embrace it. Truth, as with many other things, must be universally true as in true for everyone. It cannot be true for some and not for others. For example, salvation is available to anyone who seeks it, not only to some. It isn’t based on knowledge or goodness or what is fair. It is based on the universality of scripture. It’s application is unlimited, not limited as some seem to think. 

            Grasp the truth with both hands and do not allow it to slip thru your fingers. Biblical truth WILL absolutely set you free from the evil that exists in our depraved world. Seek the truth of God and follow it where it leads you. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

            Does the church ask too often for money? I’ve had discussions in church board meetings regarding one way to go about raising money, let’s say for a building program or a renovation project. Those particular people didn’t want to hear about it. I laid it all out and the financial guy moaned and groaned about the whole trusting in the Lord deal. My feeling is this: if the Lord’s in it it cannot and will not fail. You lay your need before God and lay out the proposed project before the congregation. Then you tell the people to pray to the Lord regarding their participation. From that point it is between the people and God. If you place your faith and trust in God you will succeed; if you place your faith and trust in human effort, chances are you will fail. Lay it before the Lord. The folks I’ve encountered didn’t act like sold out believers in Christ at all. They rejected the whole ‘relying on the Lord’ as antiquated & impractical. But aren’t we, as representatives in a lost and dying world supposed to BE like Christ as much as it is within us with the help of the Holy Spirit? Not according to this “Christian” church.

            Do churches ask for money too often? I know the whole biblical concept of tithing, yet I don’t really hear it preached very much nowadays. Isn’t that part of what a Pastor’s duty is; to instruct the people? Churches don’t seem to be praying for the will of God, or at least that’s the way it appears to me. Now I’d like to think that is the exception rather than the rule, and it seems to happen more in the main line orthodox churches more than the evangelical churches. 

            There is a great divide between believers who work at acting in the spirit realm and those who believe that is passe’. Churches that live by a liturgy rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in the church service are missing out on one of the most exhilarating experiences a believer can have. The plan I proposed required faith and trust in an unseen source. Those who PLAY church rather than work at getting closer to God are wasting their own time as a placid believer. Do churches even hear from the Lord anymore?

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Disclaimer: I feel compelled to say that I am keenly aware of many churches that have gifted pastors and churches that do their level best with the Spirits help to live as God would have them live; therefore, this is a “if the shoe fits wear it” posting. rlk

The Trust Initiative - No. 5

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”- Psalm 56:3 ^NASB

                  In past postings I have made a distinction between fear & reverence. In this verse being afraid is the other meaning of fear used in scripture. We’re human with emotions. We become afraid and we worry; however, God instructs us that we need not fear or worry. This is because we are his and he is our Heavenly Father. 

                  No matter what circumstances you may find yourself in, what good could possibly come from worrying or being fearful. Will it help you in your situation? No. Will it bring you peace or comfort? No. These are characteristics that emerge from a close, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

            With regards to our fear of mortal men, they can inflict pain, suffering and death to us, but they cannot rob us of our soul or our future beyond this life. A travesty in this life is when someone rejects Almighty God and loses out on forgiveness and a subsequent eternal life in his presence.

Matthew 10:28 says this: “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” We need to revere God with awe for who he is and what he has done and can do, for God controls this life and the next. We can trust our God with our very lives, without question. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

The Trust Initiative - No. 4

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”- Psalm 118:8 ^{New American Standard Bible}

                  While it cannot be confirmed, many Bible scholars surmise that this Psalm was written by none other than King David. But it really doesn’t matter … the message is a familiar one, nonetheless.  Trusting in man is misplaced trust. Almighty God can do what no man could ever do. Our trust in God enables us to know exactly where to go in our greatest time of need. Proverbs 18:10 tells us, “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” Again, in Psalm 46:1 it says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

                  What can man offer us when trouble arises? Not much. As I have said in past postings, mortal man’s resources are sorely lacking. When you think of God and what scripture says of him, you should have confidence that he will protect you from anything that may come against you. God watches over his children as a mother hen watches over her chicks or a shepherd watches over his flock. Both are safe and secure, protected by their loving overseer.

                  As an illustration, a form of refuge could be a fortress, which can have outside walls as thick of 4 feet. Penetration by the enemy would be difficult. Infiltration from within would accomplish that goal. I would compare that to your mind being compromised by the enemy thru some form of media incursion or irregular association. Our relationship with God is meant to be deeply intimate. The closer we are to our Heavenly Father the more we will trust him, because we know him a little bit more each day we spend time with him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Trust Initiative - No. 3

“You who [reverently] fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.” -Psalm 115:11 ^{Amplified Bible}

            Once again, we see the reference to fearing the Lord. I’ve been using the Amplified Bible up to this point because it breaks down a word or phrases meaning in an easier to understand way. Fear of the Lord is not like being afraid. Those who should be afraid of the Lord are folks who live as they choose, without any consideration for God or his Word. Those are the people who need to take a real hard look at themselves and think about the possibility of a higher power that is far greater than themselves. Not just a higher power, but a spiritual entity that IS love in its purest and most concise form. Because of his majestic power and endless wisdom, we are to be in awe of him and treat him with reverence. Our fear of him should also lead to trust, just as our faith should. We should trust him because there has, nor will there ever be a time when he will not be our help and protector. 

When I think of the word ‘shield’, I think of the Roman shields they used in battle.  They were convex in shape and had straight sides; 4 feet tall and 2-1/2 feet wide. They were made of wood and copper and at times had a thick leather overlay that was saturated with water to douse the flames of fiery arrows shot at them by their enemies. The average height of a Roman soldier back in the day was roughly 5’7”-5’8” tall. If they crouched down their entire body from head to toe would be covered by these shields. That is what comes to mind when scripture tells us God is our shield. He protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy. Satan is powerless against a child of God, unless that child gives the devil a foothold.^[1] Do not yield to the enemy, for God is your “help and shield”. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

^[1] Ephesians 4:26-27

 

“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness endures forever.” - Psalm 118:1 ^{Amplified Bible}

The Trust Initiative - No. 2

“Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.”- Psalm 37:3 ^{Amplified Bible}

For this posting, I have chosen this simple verse from the Psalms. The Psalmist is King David, who had a heart after God. ^[1] No doubt thru his own experiences, David asks his readers to place their full trust in God and not in men, who are perishing like the lilies of the field that are here today and gone tomorrow. All of mankind is fading from this earth beginning on the day of their birth and are limited in what they can do. The Lord’s riches, wisdom and strength are limitless. In God we can trust both for things temporal and eternal, of the body and the soul, now and forevermore.

            David follows his pitch for trusting the Lord by saying that we should “do good”. Now since Jesus said in Mark 10:18 that no one is good except God the Father, this implies than men are inherently NOT good at their core. Hence our need for forgiveness, aka, redemption. However, since God is good and we are his children, we are to emulate his goodness as we become closer to his heart. Our fruit will reveal our faithfulness.

            Our trust in God is largely, if not exclusively, based on his faithfulness to us. We love because he first loved us. ^[2]Everything that is good and loving and kind and compassionate emanates from Almighty God. Salvation is designed to lead us to behaving like the Lord Jesus.

            The final statement, I believe, is referring not just to the land we dwell on this side of heaven, but also in the heavenly realm. As sheep in their pasture would peacefully feed, we are to feed without fear in the faithfulness and goodness of our God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] 1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts 13:22

^[2] 1 John 4:19

The Trust Initiative – No. 1

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”- Proverbs 3:5-6

                  Trust is an outcropping of our faith. The greater our faith in God is the more likely we are to trust him with our lives. There are some key words in these 2 verses that reveal how we should live this life. 

            One’s heart is where their soul resides. Our trust in God must come from the deepest part of our soul. Man’s ability to understand is inferior to a God who dispenses wisdom freely. If we rely on our own understanding, we are shortchanging ourselves in a big way. If we trust God we must let go of all that would encumber us and have the patience to allow his will to materialize before us.

            To acknowledge God is to accept his existence as true. This is what we are to do with every fiber of our being in every aspect of our life. If we’re going to trust the Lord for all things we certainly must accept that he is real. We must have no doubt. Doubt causes a lack of trust, which is exactly what we don’t want. Our faith and trust mustn’t be conditional, as in, if God does this or that then I will trust him. It doesn’t work that way. We must trust him FIRST, then have that faith bolstered by the answer we’ve sought.

            Life is full of crooked paths. Without the guidance and direction of our spiritual GPS, the Holy Spirit, we will not end up where we were intended to go. Trust in God spills over into trust in the Spirit. The Lord will lead us where we are to go as long as we don’t go racing off ahead of him. We must fine tune our ability to discern that which is from the Lord and that which is not. These verses are the initial step in trusting God. They are elemental in nature and fairly easy to abide by. I refer to them as ‘the gospel in a nutshell’. These are the first two verses I ever memorized. Starting here provides a launching pad, allowing you to take off into new and exciting areas of your walk with Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Hands & For His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question

What is “good” & Who Sets Its Standard?

If we are to understand God and the goodness of God, it is important that we study what the Bible teaches about this question. When we do that, we find that the varying human opinions and perspectives about “goodness” fall far short of a complete understanding.

According to the Bible, God declares His creation "very good" after completing it ^{(Genesis 1:31)}, signifying that everything He made was perfectly fashioned and functioning according to His design without sin or corruption. God Himself is the ultimate standard of goodness, as He is described as light with no darkness at all, and no one is good except God alone ^{(Mark 10:18; 1 John 1:5)}.  This inherent goodness means His nature is holy, His intentions are always right, and He cannot do anything unholy or unrighteous. 

The Bible outlines several specific aspects of goodness that God emphasizes: The goodness in creation, goodness in action as God requires people to do things justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him ^{(Micah 6:8)}. The goodness He demonstrated through His plan to redeem humanity, sending His Son so that people might have eternal life (John 3:16). His Goodness is that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose ^{(Romans 8:28).} Ultimately, God is good to all, and His mercy extends over everything He has made ^{(Psalm 145:9)}, offering a future and hope rather than evil ^{(Jeremiah 29:11)}.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question 

What is Replication?

            To replicate something or someone is to reproduce or duplicate that thing or person. Is that not what we are asked by God to do with Jesus? In effect, to reproduce or duplicate his behavior? The answer is YES. That’s EXACTLY what we are encouraged to do.

            Let’s look at scriptures that reveal this fact:

 

^“... whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.” - 1 John 2:6

 

^“For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps.” - 1 Peter 2:21

 

“Imitate me (Paul), just as I imitate Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 11:1

 

“Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” - Ephesians 5:1-2

 

            That should make it crystal clear that the plan from the foundations of the world was for followers of Christ to begin to replicate his behavior. To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord will help your spiritual maturation process immensely.  Your walk with the Lord will not be perfect. It was never intended to be because God KNOWS we are but “dust and to dust we shall return.” ^[1] We must, though, be determined to know God intimately by studying his word. I’m not saying or even insinuating that we should become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. It is however imperative that each serious believer set aside some time to spend uninterrupted with the Lord. Don’t shirk normal responsibilities and do NOT neglect your family. Include them in your pursuit for a rise in your relational exploration with Almighty God. If you haven’t started, begin your replication process. It’s never too late to begin. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” - Genesis 3:19 NIV
Note: All verses are from the Amplified Bible & the NIV.

I Have a Question

 

“Are We to Associate With Sinners?”

 

         The answer to that question is YES. How can you plant seeds of faith where they are not needed? “But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with such scum?’ Jesus answered them, ‘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.’” [Luke 5:30-32 NLT]

            The Pharisees acted respectably in public, making themselves look good to the masses. They publicly did good deeds, all the while pointing figures at the sins of the commoners. Jesus chose to spend time with those in need of salvation and not the proud, self-righteous religious leaders. Those who lived in the towns had a sense of their own sin and knew they were not good enough for God. To come to God they all must repent, renouncing their sin. The first step was to own up to their own sin. The Pharisees saw nothing more in Jesus than a way to disrupt their way of pleasing God. 

            We are not to shun, but to associate with non-believers. This should be done as a means of planting seeds of the gospel, but that mustn’t be the only reason. I’ve known several people who always sought you out until you said a “sinner’s prayer” and got saved. Then they were virtually impossible to find for fellowship and to answer questions. A very poor way to handle that type of situation. You have to be real, not fake. You have to make a commitment to be a friend to this new person, even if they resist salvation. Become a true friend, not a spiritual salesman who is insincere. Did someone do that to you when you got saved? Don’t do that to someone else. 

            Associating with sinners doesn’t mean you become like them, doing the things they do. You be true to yourself and your faith. No phony put on, genuine interest in being their friend(s). Until next time, 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.

I Have a Question 

Who Were the Samaritans?

(and Why Did the Jews HATE Them?)

 

The Samaritans occupied the country formerly belonging to the tribe of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The capital of the country was Samaria, formerly a large and splendid city. When the ten tribes were carried away into captivity to Assyria, the king of Assyria sent people from Cutha, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to inhabit Samaria. These foreigners intermarried with the Israelite population that was still in and around Samaria. These “Samaritans” at first worshiped the idols of their own nations, but being troubled with lions, they supposed it was because they had not honored the God of that territory. A Jewish priest was therefore sent to them from Assyria to instruct them in the Jewish religion. They were instructed from the books of Moses, but still retained many of their idolatrous customs. The Samaritans embraced a religion that was a mixture of Judaism and idolatry. Because the Israelite inhabitants of Samaria had intermarried with the foreigners and adopted their idolatrous religion, the Samaritans were universally despised by the Jews.

            There were several other reasons why they were so hated by the Jews. After their return from Babylon, the Jews began rebuilding their temple. While Nehemiah was engaged in building the walls of Jerusalem, the Samaritans vigorously attempted to halt their construction. Why were the Samaritans so opposed to the Jews rebuilding the Temple? The Samaritans initially offered to help rebuild the Second Temple but were rejected by the Jewish leaders.  Their opposition, which sought to stop the temple construction, stemmed from being turned away, plus they viewed the restoration of pure Jewish worship in Jerusalem as a threat to their own religious practices.

The Samaritans built a temple for themselves on “Mount Gerizim,” which the Samaritans insisted was designated by Moses as the place where the nation should worship. Sanballat, the leader of the Samaritans, established his son-in-law, Manasses, as high priest. The idolatrous religion of the Samaritans thus continued on.

Samaria became a place of refuge for all the outlaws of Judea. The Samaritans willingly received Jewish criminals and refugees from justice. The violators of the Jewish laws, and those who had been excommunicated, found safety for themselves in Samaria, greatly increasing the hatred which existed between the two nations.

Religiously speaking, the Samaritans received only the five books of Moses, yet rejected the writings of the prophets and all the Jewish traditions.

That was the final straw for the Jews. The differences between the Samaritans and the Jews had now become irreconcilable, as the Jews now regarded the Samaritans as the worst of the human race and had absolutely no dealings with them. Jesus broke down the barriers between them, in spite of the hatred that existed, preaching the gospel of peace to the Samaritans and His apostles later followed Jesus’ example.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

I Have a Question 

What Must I Do to Get to Heaven?

            Peter makes it very clear when he speaks to the Jews that were present at that time. In Acts 2:38-40 he proclaims the following: “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.” And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!”

            So when scripture says, “Call out to the Lord and you will be saved”, there’s a little more to it than just calling out His name. Actually, it’s pretty basic. God knows all things that can be known; we do not. God is perfect in every way; we are not.  God has a plan; we do not. He is able to cleanse us of all our sins; we are not. Scripture tells us in Romans 3:22-24 the following: “This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,...”. THAT is what you must do to get to heaven.

            Mankind has a problem. Whether they understand, or believe it or not, they have sinned repeatedly against the One who created them. Our sin is like an immense monetary debt that we have accrued and have no way of paying off. The blood spilled by Jesus on the cross was the payment required to cleanse our sin debt. The payment has no strings attached to it, unless you consider following Jesus a reason to turn down the payment. 

            Free will has been given to all men by God. We can exercise that free will and walk away from His gracious invitation if we so choose. That is exactly why God doesn’t send anyone to hell. By virtue of their free will, they make that decision all on their own. They choose not to be involved with God at all. Choose to follow the Lord... choose life. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question

How do we determine our own moral and/or ethical framework of beliefs? 

 

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:27 NKJV

 

“...for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.” – Romans 2:14-15 NKJV

 

According to Christian theology, God gives humans an innate sense of right and wrong from birth.  This is rooted in the belief that humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), which includes an inherent capacity to discern moral truths. 

The Apostle Paul argues in Romans 2:14-15 that even those without direct knowledge of God’s law have the "work of the law written on their hearts," with their conscience bearing witness to moral distinctions. This suggests that humans possess an innate sense of right and wrong that persists despite the distortion caused by sin, allowing for basic moral recognition across all cultures. 

While this innate sense exists, it can be corrupted or seared by sin (1 Timothy 4:2).  Therefore, believers are encouraged to align their conscience with Scripture and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to accurately discern God’s moral will. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

Taking a Look at Scripture 

 

“And as for [the rest of] you, brethren, do not grow tired or lose heart in doing good [but continue doing what is right without weakening].”- 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Amplified Bible

 

         After speaking to the disorderly church members in Thessalonica, Paul took the time to encourage those who persevered in doing good without growing weary or discouraged. The apostle calls those who are persevering in the faith his brethren. Now technically, the slackers are Paul’s brothers in Christ as well, but the dutiful ones are called such in this letter to let them feel good about what they are accomplishing. It separates the good from the bad. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that not all who profess to be following Christ are. 

            We are called to follow Christ, some believers do and others do not. They may have had a legitimate conversion experience; however, they’ve not counted the cost and as a result may have turned spiritually lazy regarding the things of the Lord.

            I have a saying that I firmly believe and live out each day. It is, “It’s NEVER right to do wrong, but it is NEVER wrong to do right”. Some of the members of the Thessalonica had become weary of doing good. Paul’s concern was that those members would have an adverse effect on those continually doing good. 

            The good that some were doing involved daily labor, generosity toward others, along with general Christian conduct, which would be consistent with an ongoing commitment to the Lord. This guidance from Paul can be tied to Galatians 6:9 where Jesus promises a harvest for the ones who do not give up. Faithful service shall be rewarded by the Lord. Idleness can be contagious if one isn’t alert and discerning. Continue on with your service to the Lord and stay strong in the things of God. Keep building your relationship with him and become like the proverbial beacon on the hill. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.thebiblesays.com

Taking a Look at Scripture

 

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” – John 14:15 NIV

            Obeying Jesus’ commands is NOT a requirement or condition for salvation. Rather, it should be a natural result of having a living, breathing relationship with Christ. Love is an action word; therefore, it is important to show your love thru action instead of just by emotion.

            Exactly what commands is Jesus speaking of?  They encompass all of the words and teachings of Jesus from throughout his ministry. His words should be identified as his Father’s own words since they are one in the same. Obedience is proof of salvation. It is a call to accept and follow his revelation to love and live in truth.

            The love spoken of in the above verse is known as “agape” love which represents a selfless, sacrificial commitment. We should obey the Lord out of love and respect instead of fear of repercussions if we do not, because there would be no punishment coming if you do not follow his lead in obedience. We should do it because we have placed immense value in their relationship with Christ.

            The focus should be between loving God and keeping his word, rather than adhering to a rigid list of do’s & don’ts. It’s quite simple really. Those who do NOT love the Lord will not obey his teachings. Those who DO love Jesus WILL follow his teachings because of their love and respect for him.

            All disciples of Christ both then and now are identified by their obedience to God’s Word, their love for fellow believers and even for those they consider enemies. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

Taking a Look at Scripture 

 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” – 1 John 4:7 NIV

 

            Love is a divine attribute that comes directly from Almighty God, and this verse establishes that fact. Having the love of God in your heart is evidence that a spiritual rebirth has taken place in a person.

            The verse reveals to us the divine origin of love showing us that it is not merely a human emotion. It comes directly from God’s nature for as it says in the very next verse (v.8) “God is love.” He is the embodiment of love. Man has skewed love into something disjointed, immoral, and evil, which is not at all what God intended.

            When someone exhibits love in a visible way it reveals selflessness growing in that persons heart. It is thru love that we become selfless, as Jesus was. Doing for others with no expectation of reciprocation reveals the sacrificial side of love. Those characteristics represent an individual that is spiritually born again by Almighty God.

            One of the things that is so special about “knowing God” is what that truly means. To know God is to begin a trip to an intimate, transformative relationship with the creator of the universe and man’s first breath. It is supposed to result in loving others more than you love yourself. It is loving in a real, palpable way rather than simply giving a verbal acknowledgement. Forget what the world says love is... disregard it. Home in on what the creator of true lasting love has to say in his Word about love. ^{[ Hint: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ]}

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries         

Resource: www.biblehub.com

 

Taking a Look at Scripture

“...the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” – Hebrews 9:22 NIV

            Nearly all iniquities that took place in the OT period required that they be purified with blood. Without it there was NO forgiveness of sins. The animals blood signified a temporary, symbolic covering for impurity, having NOT removed that sin for all time as Christ’s blood did. The Law was absolute; no sin was pardoned unless a life was given for “the life of the flesh is in the blood”. [Leviticus 17:14 NIV]

Hebrews 9:22 is a bridge to the New Covenant provided by Christ’s sacrificial death. The New Covenant reveals the superiority of Christ’s willing sacrifice. The OT sacrifices had to be made repeatedly on an annual basis in a ritualistic fashion. This system was imperfect, yet set the stage for the shedding of Christ’s own blood as a “once for all time”redemptive sacrifice which fulfilled the Mosaic Laws demand for justice. The New Covenant provided for believers forgiveness that was for a lifetime. Eternal forgiveness which begins the moment you give your life over to Christ. His death validated the New Covenant, proving that God’s justice was satisfied completely, allowing Him to forgive sins eternally without compromising His holiness.

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.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/9-22.html

Taking a Look at Scripture 

 

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” – John 17:5 NIV

            Early church tradition referred to this verse as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, as it is where he asks God the Father to restore him to the divine glory that was shared with God before the creation of the world. 

            The verse speaks of Jesus pre-existence and divine posture. It affirms his eternal nature and unity with the Father. This glory he seeks is a REACQUISITION rather than a NEW acquisition. He was seeking to return to his rightful state after his earthly ministry was completed. Jesus concealed this while on his mission to accomplish salvation for mankind. The Lord sought re-glorification as a result of his glorifying the Father while he was on earth.

            While there exists slight interpretable differences among theologians the vast majority see this verse as direct evidence for Christ’s pre-creation existence with God the Father; both being eternal and both being divine. 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.bible-study.com