FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU!

       The events of the past several months have been disconcerting to say the least.  As terrorists groups seek to strike fear in the hearts of men, I reflect on who they are in comparison to the God who created them.  Frankly, they are nothing.  If God wished He could extinguish them instantly, but He withholds His hand.  Why?  I'm not sure I know the answer in it's entirety, but I believe I know it in part.  The scripture tells us to love and not hate.  No where in scripture, neither the Old Testament, nor the New Testament, does it instruct believers in Christ to single out and kill any and all who disagree with a groups beliefs.  Christ came that all men could become truly free from the burden of sin.  God loves us and cares for us.  He will protect us from the evil that is griping the world.  Will it get worse before it gets better ... possibly or probably, I'm not all that sure which.  Christ could return for His followers 5 minutes from now or He could come for us in 5 years.  No one knows.  But until that time, continue to live your life as an ambassador for Christ and seek the face of God. For in all of scripture there is no example of Him ever failing to fulfill any one of His promises to His people.  Do not allow the deeds of evil men to terrify you. That's what they want.  Don't give them the satisfaction, rejoice in the name of Jesus Christ and trust Him to lead you through the mess that is infolding.  

Isaiah 41:10New International Version (NIV)

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  

rlkeller

TRAGIC EVENTS

       The shootings in Orlando were tragic to say the least.  You'll find some Christians somewhere saying it's God's punishment for the homosexual lifestyle of the club goers that fateful evening.  That is so wrong, so short sighted.  God doesn't say anywhere in scripture that He hates homosexuals.  He hates their lifestyle. The way they live is contrary to what God's Word declares.  What His Word DOES declare is that it is not His will that any would perish (2 Peter 3:9).  That includes the homosexuals. Yes, and the transgenders too.  It isn't God's desire for homosexuals to receive Christ and then continue on in their sinful lifestyle.  Like all of mankind, once forgiven we are a new creation. The old things pass away and the new things begin. If allowed, the Holy Spirit begins to perform spiritual surgery on your heart.  God looks at the heart of a man, not at their external appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).  

       It would appear that many orthodox denominations seem to be searching for  loop holes in the whole homosexual issue.  They say Sodom and Gomorrah only speaks of same sex gang rape and not a consentual loving relationship and so on.  One person mentions in his writings that while it does indeed say in scripture that marriage should be between one man and one woman, it doesn't prohibit same sex marriage.  Looking for loop holes is a dangerous game.  Making scripture say what you want it to say can send seeking individuals down the wrong path.  It's a scary world we live in and those who simply refuse to believe that God would judge anyone and send them to hell may be in for a rude awakening.  If I'm wrong about all this, so be it.  If I'm right, then some folks need to take a closer look at God's Word and do some repenting.  

       I'm not a homophobe by any stretch of the imagination; however, I do get concerned when such a small minority of the population wields such a big stick.  Killing others due to their beliefs is never right. The shooter supposedly saw two gay men kissing and it sent him into a rage.  Several days later the shooting took place.  Put strict gun laws in place? No, because the bad guys aren't buying their guns from reputable sources.  The good people would be left defenseless.  Perhaps that what the liberals of this world want, but that would be a terrifying mistake.  elk

From Saul to Paul (Acts 9:1-31)

       Have you ever thought what Paul's life must have been like before and after his conversion on the road to Damascus? Saul of Tarsus was filled with knowledge of the Law and a deep conviction to serve God.  His service entailed ridding the world of the followers of Jesus Christ.  Then one day his whole world and all he knew to be true, like a rug, was pulled out from under him.  A bright, blinding  light knocked him from his horse on the Damascus road.  He was no doubt stunned and quite shaken at the turn of events.  He was confronted by a voice from the light. It was Jesus.  Saul became Paul and with sins forgiven followed the Lord's instruction regarding where to go and what to do.  His reputation was such that after his conversion Christians were reluctant to interact with him.  Once he was able to show them the change that had taken place in his heart and life they embraced him as one of their own.  Paul quickly became the great Apostle Paul who planted churches and preached the gospel to all who would listen.  What a great story!  rk

MONEY

1 Timothy 6:10New Living Translation (NLT)

10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

       Note, it is the love of money, not money itself. I say in my book There Are No McDonald's In Heaven that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with money, it is more how we have attained it and what we do with it.  If we attained it by illegal or nefarious means, that is a bad thing.  If we attained it through hard work or an inheritance, that is a good thing.  Remember, while it's never wrong to do the right thing it is never right to do the wrong thing.  Ill gotten gain cannot be used for righteous purposes, for no good use of it will right the wrong of such a financial gain. However, if you take a good gain and put it to work for the kingdom of God, for the benefit of your own family or someone else in need, this will always be a good thing.  You can't buy God's favor, it's not for sale.  It is a free gift to all who would receive.  

       Money is a temporary commodity just like all the other temporal things of this world.  Anything that can be depleted is not from God for His supply is never ending.  Once your temporal resources are gone you are left clinging to the edge of the ledge with nowhere else to turn.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.  Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil."  Proverbs 3:5-7

Hmm, didn't mean for this to be another devo of sorts, but it is what it is and I stand by it.  Have a blessed day! rlk

EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING

       I've had 3+ chapters of my new book on obedience to God written for a while now.  I go back and reread it, tweak it, then reread it again.  I finally got around to having my publicist read what I have written thus far and she loved it.  That inspires me to make the time to press forward with the writing of STARK RAVING OBEDIENCE.  As believers we must understand that we have a responsibility back to God as His ambassadors on this earth.  Wherever we go, whatever we say and do is all done as His representatives.  I know I have some house cleaning to do when it comes to my life.  I'm grateful that no major shifts in behavior are required, at least that I can tell, but it most certainly pays to keep your finger on the pulse of your spiritual life so as not to become stale and dried up.  Know what I mean?  Anyway, I have some yard grooming to do this morning before I take my wife to lunch.  

       WORDSMITH JOURNAL MAGAZINE is doing a Summer Social Media blitz.... 13 weeks/ posted min of 13 times + cover on dedicated page at site. This was brought to my attention by my publicist and I am going to do it.  May translate into more books getting out into the peoples hands.  Getting the word out is more important than making money at this point.  I am spotlighting my first book, THERE ARE NO McDONALD'S IN HEAVEN: WAITING ON GOD (2012).  Let's see what happens.

       Gotta run ... got bunches to do.  Have a super blessed day & an even better week!!

In His name & for His glory.

RL Keller

       

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

       I'm still slowly accumulating data for my 4th book on Obedience. My work schedule hasn't allowed me to do much of anything except write my devotional blog.  I do have 4 chapters complete from a ways back and will be emailing them off to my publicist to look over.  She is a dear sister in the Lord and friend and loves to read anything I write, then offer her opinion.  My shoulder is still mending.  I may have mentioned some time ago that I fell off a 5 ft step ladder and dislocated my left shoulder.  I've been having treatments on it weekly and it has been feeling a lot better, but it is still pretty stiff and sore at times.  Oh well, time heals all wounds I guess.  No progress on my Spanish translation plans.  Had a translation website translate a devotional, then had a latino brother read it.  He said non-Christian sites won't know how to translate certain words and phrases from a Christian perspective, so the meaning will be lost.  The hunt continues.  I guess that's it for now.  God bless you all.  May His will be done in all our lives. rk

GETTING RID OF BAD PEOPLE

       I was at my Chiropractor this morning & heard him make an interesting statement while speaking to a woman patient receiving treatment.  They were speaking about how crazy the world has become & the doctor said, "I think we should do away with all bad people."  The woman's response was predictable: "Who do you think the bad people are?"  The doc thought for a second, then said, "You know, heroin addicts, murderers ... people like that."  The conversation drifted off into another direction, but I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of something I wrote in one of my books.  How man cannot govern himself because there must be a set of rules to determine what we should or shouldn't do and we are incapable of constructing such a list without it being infused with our own emotions,  prejudices & past calamitous events.  Who should set up such rules?  

       It also struck me that he mentions heroin addicts & murderers in the same breath.  Interesting.  That simple statement leads me to believe that he considers himself a good person, at the very least better than those two groups of people.  I think most people have a pretty lofty opinion of themselves.  They point out all the people they consider not as good as them morally and/or ethically and salve their already numbed conscience by declaring, "At least I don't do what he or she does."  Their fatal flaw is who they are comparing themselves to.  There's a reason scripture says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  The reason is that we need to compare ourselves to the One who created us and not others created beings.  Bad people will always exist, but as long as God puts off Christ's return there is always hope for all who have sinned.