Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

“by his stripes (wounds) we are healed”

 

Does God still heal today? Yes. Is this phrase found in Isaiah 53:5 a promise of God to heal us? It doesn’t appear so if you look at this verse in the context in which it is found. The general tenor of the chapter is about the suffering of Jesus and his subsequent death on a cross. It speaks of what he suffered in detail. It has been referred to by some scholars as the 1^st Gospel. 

Is there truly such a thing as a modern day “faith healer”? We find in the gospels that every one that came to Jesus with a handicap, sickness or disease was touched by him and healed. In the book of Acts who see the same thing happening when the Apostles laid hands on those in need of a healing. Not one person failed to get healed. Not a single one. The same cannot be said of “faith healers”. If someone isn’t healed after they pray for and lay hands on them then it is the one being prayed for...it’s their fault. Not enough faith. Too much unbelief. But nowhere in the gospels or Acts does it say anything about having not enough faith. In Luke 17:19 1 of 10 lepers, when they had been healed, came back to see Jesus and praise God for his healing. This man happened to be a Samaritan, despised by Jews. The faith he showed was that he followed Jesus instructions to show himself to the priests. On the way all 10 were healed but only the Samaritan returned. He did as he was told and came back to give glory to God. On that day that man was healed of his leprosy and of his sins ... a physical and spiritual healing. He put feet to his faith. The question of not having enough faith should be moot because of Jesus own illustration that the disciples only needed faith the size of a mustard seed, no bigger than the head of a pin. So not being healed because the person didn’t have enough faith makes no sense. Our faith is found in the asking ... in the seeking. If we had no faith we wouldn’t even bother seeking anything from God. 

While I had thought of this some time ago, I have finally come to the conclusion that while God does indeed heal people today, the wounds suffered by Jesus healed us spiritually by cleansing us of our sins.  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

What is fear? “A feeling of disquiet or uneasy anticipation of the future...a reason for dread or apprehension.”

Fear can be crippling. I figure just about everybody is afraid of something. Even the people that insist they aren't afraid of anything are saying that to hide their underlying fear of something. What am I afraid of? Hmmm, at first, I thought, "I’m afraid of displeasing the Lord." Hmmm, no, there had to be something deeper ... "fear of witnessing" ... there ya go. That must be it. But still I pondered. It was something deeper, something derived from personal experiences throughout my life that had put thin layers of fear around my heart. Let's see ... I am afraid of flying, but that can be avoided. I am afraid of being unable to move due to a disease or accident ... which plays into my anxiety issues (that's another story in and of itself). All these things were definitely offshoots, but what was the root of my fear. My mind was whirling like a minicomputer ... I've got it. I know what I’m afraid of. Why hadn't I thought of this before. Of course. My fear lies in being REJECTED. Tied to that is a fear of failure and also a fear of succeeding (which on the surface doesn't seem to make any sense but I think it’s real in my life). I fear rejection on many levels. I fear failure, which isn't so strange. 

I suppose a lot of people have a fear of failing. But I also have a fear of succeeding ... I don't think I deserve to succeed for some reason. So NOW I have to seek God and work towards removing the shackles that have bound me in so many areas of my life. It’s difficult to come face to face with your fears and even more difficult to remove them. But can WE really remove them. Perhaps through some sort of therapy, but that may take time. What about praying about it? Yes, that’s the key. I need to shift my focus off my circumstances and place it squarely on Jesus. I have a Heavenly Father who will no doubt show me the way to further spiritual freedom in spite of myself. It’s a fact that we tend to cause our own problems. Reflect on your own life and see what, if anything, you may be afraid of. Then go to the Father and see to be unshackled. Then praise the Lord. Regardless of how you feel you should always take the time to worship the Lord because he is forever worthy of our praise. Amen?

Psalm 150:1-2 ... “Praise the LORD.  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.        Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.”  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

Is He the one and only absolute truth or is He just a fairy tale believed by weak-willed people seeking a crutch? Is there such a thing as ABSOLUTE TRUTH? Truth always seems to shake out as that which makes sense to an individual, therefore they see it as the truth. But is it true for EVERYONE. You see, doesn’t something have to be true for everyone to be absolutely true? I would venture to say that most, if not all people have differing views on what is true. Just like we all have a different definition of what is NORMAL. Doesn’t there need to be one solitary truth that trumps all others? And where would that truth come from? If you have chosen NOT to believe in the existence of God, then where would your truth come from? Doesn’t there need to be a universal truth; one that is true for all mankind?

It is my assertion that the answer to that is a hardy YES. It MUST be fair and just to everyone. 

Who represents that type of truth? I contend that only an eternal deity could possibly put forth such amazing truth that it would confound the human mind. The simplicity of it is astounding. Man’s autonomy trips them up and doesn’t allow them to see the simple truth that God represents. Reading God’s Word with an open mind can begin the revealing of the truth. Preconceived ideas must be left at the door, but that’s not an easy thing to do. It depends on what your preconceived idea happens to be. 

Can something be true without the evidence to back it up? If we don’t understand something does that mean it can’t be true? There can’t be multiple truths regarding a given subject, only one. Spiritually speaking, based on your upbringing and what you’ve learned thru your life, you either believe an almighty deity exists or that He doesn’t exist. If you assume that God doesn’t exist because you see no evidence of His existence, then shouldn’t you want to do an unbiased, independent investigation to find out for sure? 

Now I cannot prove that God exists; however, I have chosen to believe it as a fact that He exists, came to earth in human form, lived for 33 years and died on a wooden cross to cleanse mankind of their accumulated sins. If I’m wrong, I die and have no other conscience thought; so I will never know whether God exists or not, but it won’t matter because I no longer exist. However, if God does exist, and sin is a real thing, and there is a standard that you should be following to have the best possible life, and you don’t choose to believe then what would happen? You wouldn’t stop having conscience thoughts once we die. What happens to you right when you die is debatable, but your final destination will either end up being God’s heaven or hell, forever separated from the God you didn’t believe in. It would be like have a life sentence with no chance of reprieve. Seeking forgiveness, which had been in play until time is no more, is no longer an option. You gambled and lost. If all that happens to be true, then whether you believe or not will not change that particular truth. Don’t fall into the trap of believing what seems right to you, because you chose the easiest path. Solomon states rather emphatically in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.” It’s a choice we all must make. Choose wisely.

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 have a question for you. Is God your first choice or your last resort? When and only when circumstances become dire do you then cry out to God, or do you keep in regular communication with Him? What do YOU think is the correct answer. For me, the only correct answer here is to honor the privilege we have in knowing our Creator intimately and that only happens thru visiting with Him regularly, not once in a blue moon. He WANTS to hear from you. He desires your fellowship. Even though He knows all we are thinking He still wants to communicate with you.

                  Communication isn’t the direct one-on-one variety; it’s more like sensing His presence. Feeling His love pouring over you. You have to be able to sit still for that type of relationship and sitting still doesn’t seem to jibe with the society of today. Could be meditating on the goodness of the Lord or simply praising His name quietly to yourself or out loud. Communication can be thru the reading of His Word, for if you allow it to, scripture will speak to you on the deepest level of your soul and spirit. Your focus needs to be on the Lord and not your life situations. Your problems can chew up your time and cause undue stress, and tension. It doesn’t have to be that way. 

I find that if I occupy my mind with writing or reading, I divert my thoughts from that which is bothering me to the Lord. I deal with anxiety at times. Am on medication for it. Have been for years. I was told by a Christian counselor many years ago the practice of altering your focus onto peaceful, uplifting thoughts. So if I have anxiety rising up within me, I gravitate to the Psalms or Proverbs to calm myself. That plus the work of the Holy Spirit helps me remain calm. God cares and is there with you in each of life’s situations. Sure, you’ll become overwhelmed at times. After all, we ARE still humans, but God provides ways for us to conquer that which we are battling with. 

So make God your FIRST choice and NOT your last resort. Seek Him while He may be found and stay in close contacts with Him. Life can be difficult for sure, but it doesn’t always have to be as difficult as we make it out to be. Focus on your relationship with God and work at making it strong. 

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

 

Anything done to the extreme is unhealthy, even “religion”. Being over-zealous regarding your beliefs can be a major turn off to those around you. Don’t be “in-your-face” about what you believe. If it isn’t appreciated in politics, to name one example, then why on earth would it be alright in religion. Share the gospel when an opportunity presents itself, don’t bludgeon people with what you believe to be the truth. Pray for those opportunities to come and they will. Share from your heart out of love and concern for a person’s soul, not to earn another notch on your belt, so to speak. Be zealous, but be humble at the same time, understanding that God doesn’t need you, but rather has chosen you to deliver His message to a dying world. However you deliver said message, do it regularly and with compassion. We are being watched closely by non-believers. They’re looking for contradictions, and / or mistakes, slip ups that will give them ammunition again Christians. Aside from salvation, we are really no different than unbelievers. Cut us we bleed. We get stressed and fearful; just like anyone else. We, of course, do have a master plan … God and His Word.

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

 

CONSCIENCE - To have a conscience means to have a sense of right and wrong, and a feeling of obligation to do the right thing. It can also mean having a sensitive regard for fairness and justice.

 

            If a person has NO conscience, it would mean that they have no sense of what is right & what is wrong. They feel NO obligation to do the right thing. They justify their words or actions by what they are thinking or how they feel at the moment. A person with NO conscience is liable to think, say or do just about anything. They tend to be irresponsible (in a general sense). Their world revolves around them and only them, making them selfish. They feel no guilt because their morals & ethics are skewed. 

            A person who HAS a conscience will feel some level of remorse for what he or she has either said or done. They understand the hill that must be climbed to gain someone’s trust back. The pain they may have caused bothers them. If you’re a Christian, you should be seeking forgiveness from the Lord & the object of your error in judgment. Receiving forgiveness from God is a given if sought with the right heart motivation. Forgiveness from the target of your mistake may be harder to receive. 

            At times even when the person WITH a conscience regrets what they’ve said or done, and sought forgiveness, their guilt outweighs the forgiveness achieved.  If you don’t feel you have much of a conscience, grow one with the help of the Lord. Focus on that which is upright & good & fair & just and not those things that create ambivalence in their mind.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

                  WWDJ was an acronym that was popular in the 1990’s. It stood for the catch phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” That is a very poignant question that should be utilized in our everyday life. 

                  As true followers of Christ, what should our first thought be when confronted with a challenge or a dilemma? Shouldn’t it be What Would Jesus Do? Let’s face it, we don’t know everything ... no one does. In contrast, Almighty God knows all that can be known. He alone can provide a way out of any challenge or dilemma. Yet we still insist on doing things our own way.  So why is it that when we do that and things blow up we want to blame God, when we didn’t choose to seek Him prior to the explosion? God owes us nothing.  NOTHING.  It is out of the goodness of His heart and His deep seated love for us that He sent His only Son to take on the punishment for all sin as a physical example of that love.

                  Jesus’ life is a perfect example of how we should live OUR lives. If you want to know characteristics that are embodied in “love”, look no further than 1^st Corinthians 13. The way one should act is spelled out very succinctly in that chapter. We should lead with love. Lead with kindness. Lead with compassion. Lead with mercy. It IS what Jesus would do.

                  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

 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t (Jesus) leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until He finds it?”- Luke 15:4 (NIV) 
          Jesus is referred to in scripture as the Great Shepherd. As depicted in Luke 15:4, a shepherd will seek high and low to find the one sheep from his flock that has wandered off. Those under his care are safe, but the one that is lost is in great danger. Jesus shed His own blood to save those lost and dying souls who don’t know Him as well as those who have embraced “the gift” of salvation. 
          We need to start seeing those around us with Jesus eyes. We don’t need to see them as if they are somehow less than us because they are unable to see the truth right in front of them. No, just as Christ showed us mercy in OUR ignorance, we must also see all others with that same type of mercy. We see some pretty interesting looking people out there in this wacky world of ours. We need to look past the outer shell and see that they too have a beating heart in need of love, patience, grace, and forgiveness. Just because we believe in Christ doesn’t make us any better than anyone else. We need to see people as God sees them and display His love, patience, mercy, and grace for them all. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

What is truth?

            It is my assertion that everyone on the face of the earth has their own version of the truth. This begs the question is there an ABSOLUTE truth?  The influences that exist in each of our lives will tend to dictate that which we believe to be true. Those influences give birth of preconceived ideas that taint our ability to determine any absolute truth that may exist. 

                  If you choose not be believe in an almighty God, then that would eliminate His representing an absolute truth. However, disbelief doesn’t cause the truth to no longer be true. It simply means that person has chosen not to believe it to be so.

                  Pontius Pilate, during his encounter with Jesus, asked the question, “What is truth?” Being cynical due to the compromises he was forced to make with the Jews during his governorship, he really wasn’t looking for an answer to his query, but rather asked in almost a mocking tone, perhaps believing that no absolute truth exists except in an individual’s mind.

                  True believers in Christ believe that God is the spiritual embodiment of truth and thus Jesus Himself is as well. They believe that within God’s realm lies absolute truth. One must embrace this to benefit from it. Due to the free will God allows us, we can believe or disbelieve whatever we choose, but there is no actual middle ground between truth and fiction. Something is either true or it is not true. Man provides the middle ground so as not to have to decide. Many sit on the proverbial fence, hovering between what is true & what is not. Believe what you wish, but understand that absolute truth is the truth that is true for everyone, not just a portion of society. It must be fair and just for everyone, not a select few. Now having said that, non-Christians may counter with the notion that their unwillingness to put all their chips in with God doesn’t make what they believe any less true. Only in the end will our beliefs be unequivocally verified as right or wrong. As the saying goes, “Time will tell”.

                  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

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 

Jesus, who is God, came to earth to play out the Father’s plan for the redemption of mankind. When He died on the cross He went to sheol* or hades, and back, thus defeating Satan. Therefore, He came from the Father’s right hand, went below, and rose up to heaven again giving Jesus / God clear dominion of all regions. All who exist in heaven, on earth and in hell shall one day kneel and declare Him Lord. God’s plans are never thwarted. Don’t forget, He is all-powerful, all-knowing and in all places at one time by His Spirit. There is no one else in existence who can say that. And there is no one in creation who can challenge Him. There are those who fancy themselves as gods or at least it seems that way by their words and actions, but even they will be compelled to bow before Christ on that appointed day.

            This should be an encouragement to all believers. That shall be the final victory proving once and for all that no one in all creation can resist bowing down to the Lord Jesus Christ. God shall receive all glory as is due Him. No one shall steal His thunder on that day. We, as believers, must live lives worthy of the grace He has freely given to us. The mercy He has shown in the face of our unbridled impudence is truly remarkable. The restraint God shows in light of the fact that He could obliterate us with one finger is evidence of His great and unwavering love for His children. Kneeling before Christ one day will be a privilege and an honor, for we do so in our hearts now; then we can do it in His presence. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* The abode of the dead ... not hell which would be considered the final punishment for the unsaved and is known as the “Lake of Fire”. Unquenchable fire for all eternity. 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Isaiah 57:1-2 New Living Translation

“Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.”

            Sin promotes great evil. We are seeing this with our own eyes today. God knows the future and it stands to reason that he may desire to save certain ones of his children from the excessive evil that is coming. Perhaps the rapture of the church will rescue us all from this, in the meantime, we are to live godly lives according to the instructions given in God’s Word. 

                  I’m sure we all know someone, whether it be man, woman, or child, that has died prematurely. It becomes a heavy weight on our heart as we utter the ‘why’ question. Why did they have to die? Why them? Why not a drug lord, pedophile, or adulterer? There are so many evil people who do horrible things just because they feel they can. Why not one of them? 

God mourns the loss of those of his children who have met death prematurely. We are allowed to question God. He’s not afraid of our doubts or questions at all. He also may not give us the answers we seek. The Christian walk can be treacherous, but in the end is rewarding. Those who die before their time will enjoy the glories of heaven sooner than we will and that’s a wonderful blessing. Our heartache comes from the fact that they are no longer with us. Death is part of the circle of life. Everyone dies at one time or another. God has his reasons why some die before others. 

I experienced this type of situation prior to my conversion when my mother’s mother had to attend my mom’s wake. My mother died of pancreatic cancer at 57 years of age. I wasn’t yet a believer, so as you can imagine I was filled with the ‘why’ question … a tragedy that caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting it. My grandmother broke down and sobbed. The thought of outliving her daughter was too much grief for her to bear. She was inconsolable. So was I. I didn’t know what to think or do. It was hard, so I know even those who know the peace of Christ still struggle with premature death. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t (Jesus) leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until He finds it?”- Luke 15:4 (NIV) 
          Jesus is referred to in scripture as the Great Shepherd. As depicted in Luke 15:4, a shepherd will seek high and low to find the one sheep from his flock that has wandered off. Those under his care are safe, but the one that is lost is in great danger. Jesus shed His own blood to save those lost and dying souls who don’t know Him as well as those who have embraced “the gift” of salvation. 
          We need to start seeing those around us with Jesus eyes. We don’t need to see them as if they are somehow less than us because they are unable to see the truth right in front of them. No, just as Christ showed us mercy in OUR ignorance, we must also see all others with that same type of mercy. We see some pretty interesting looking people out there in this wacky world of ours. We need to look past the outer shell and see that they too have a beating heart in need of love, patience, grace, and forgiveness. Just because we believe in Christ doesn’t make us any better than anyone else. We need to see people as God sees them and display His love, patience, mercy, and grace for them all. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

“Be still, and know that I am God; …”- Psalm 46:10 

          In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of each day stands God. We don’t notice Him because He is not in the hustle and bustle. We veer around Him and never even see Him standing in our midst. God is not in the chaos, but rather in the stillness. We see Him when we take the time to quiet ourselves. We feel Him when we sit by the ocean and soak in the sights and sounds of the incoming waves. We sense His presence in the woods or by a babbling brook. We know Him by spending time with Him. It’s not in talking to Him that we experience His true nature, but rather in the listening. Talking comes easily to most but listening and actually hearing something or someone is an acquired skill for us. 

          We play our music loud, our TV’s blare away and conversations with others go on and on and all the while God is there. The Creator of the Universe is quietly observing, patiently waiting for us to notice Him. It’s not when we are ‘vegging out’ or ‘chilling’ that we find God, for it takes a conscience effort to see, hear and feel Him. When we take the time, when we literally seize time by the throat and slow down even for a few moments and make a concerted effort to experience God that we will know He truly is the great and awesome I AM THAT I AM, the Almighty Jehovah God. He is our provider and sustainer. He wishes to meet with us regularly because He loves us and desires our company. He doesn’t need it, but rather desires it. What an incredible thought! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

PONDER THIS …

(A branch of the “Thoughts from a Random Mind” tree)

 

Today’s question:  If you were accused of being a follower of Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Notice I didn’t say “If you were accused of being a Christian …”. Some people believe being an American is synonymous with being a Christian.  Not so. Some people believe if they go to church every time the doors are open and give some money that makes them a Christian. Not so. There are some folks who believe if they read a few verses in the Bible every day that makes them a Christian. Wrong again. Those are all things a Christian does, but that alone will never make you a Christian. Our belief needs to and should go much deeper than that.

To be a follower of Christ doesn’t elevate you above those who simply call themselves a Christian. Please don’t misunderstand me. It’s just that there are so many people who don’t take their faith seriously enough. A Christian should be a follower of Christ. They should do the things a Christian is supposed to do, such as pray, read God’s Word regularly, go to church ... let’s stop there. Paul has something to say about going to church.

“And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,…” – Hebrews 10:24-26.

We go to church because we want to, not because we have to, because technically we don’t. We have a free will. We can do as we please, but be careful, because as Paul tells his Corinthian brothers, “Yes, do as you please, but not all things we do are constructive or beneficial to us.” (paraphrase from 1 Corinthians 10:23) What we are supposed to be doing is imitating Christ. The title Christian came from Antioch and was actually meant as an insult, as in “Oh there go those ‘little Christs’ again”. But it stuck and just as the ‘Christians’ of that day, we wear that title with pride. Sadly, because of some of the heinous things that have been done in Christs name down thru the ages, there is now a stigma attached to that title. We need to show the world thru our lifestyle, that a follower of Christ is someone to follow and listen to. We have the truth, which is diametrically opposed to what the world is selling. Ponder these things … and until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

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

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

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

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

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

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

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

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  

         God gave up His only Son for our sin, the ultimate sacrifice, the worthy for the unworthy.  The incredible thing about it is that one drop of Christ’s blood cleanses all sin.  The pure and spotless Lamb of God laid down His own life for all of mankind.  What an unbelievable event in the annals of time.  Knowing we were worthy of being cast into hell’s lake of fire for all eternity God willingly offered His Son to not just cover but erase our transgressions for all time. Still, even with this amazing truth available men choose not to believe it.  That fact alone is testament to the notion that mankind is incapable of reasoning out rational scenarios.  We fight for our right to live as we choose never being able to see the big picture.  God isn’t trying to trick man into serving Him.  He is freely offering us a pardon.  He is offering to remove the death sentence we were born with and replace it with eternal life.  The only catch is we must ask for it and as with any gift, receive it.

          The “things” Paul is speaking of here are not whatever we desire, but rather all the things we need in this life to survive.  God has promised to provide for and sustain us throughout this life if we will allow Him to.  So many Christians give their lives to the Lord and then take it back only to struggle with things they shouldn’t have to wrestle with.  God is faithful and more than worthy of all praise.  He has provided a way to escape our just punishment and will provide a life filled with blessings if we allow Him to. Surrender your will over to your loving Heavenly Father.  You will not be cheated.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Romans 8:1-2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

            There is a distinct reason why there was and is no condemnation for those who are truly saved. That reason is simply this: the blood of Christ dissolved the Old Testament Law by fulfilling it once for all for all time. Our guilt due to our sinful disobedience to God’s standard for living has been removed. That is because the punishment that was meant for us was taken on by Christ, the sinless godman who willingly took our beatings and allowed himself to be crucified on a cross of wood. Is that what your Christianity means to you? It should. 

Salvation wasn’t free, there was a gruesome cost that was paid in full by someone who never sinned. That should mean something very specific to us. We are free of our sin debt because of one man’s actions. What does he mean to you? Or do you go about your life with nary a thought to the sacrifice made for your soul. How tragic that would be.

The Law pointed out sin, but the sacrifices made never erased it, only covered it up. The controlling power of sin only produces death. The controlling power of the Holy Spirit produces life, and abundant life at that. We stand now not as condemned men*, but free men, not only now but for all eternity. We must keep this in mind when we live our lives. Christ dying for our sins is no small thing. It is the thing that should mean most to the believer. Serving God isn’t a chore, but a joy or at least it should be. Let your life be worship to our God. Seek his face consistently and lift him up for he is more than worthy of our worship, honor, and praise. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: NIV Study Bible Notes

* The word ‘men’ is used as a generic term to represent all of humanity: men, women & children.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

John 14:23 “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’”

         Saying you ‘know’ Jesus isn’t the same as loving him and ‘loving’ him isn’t the same as obeying him. Just as faith should lead to trust, ‘knowing’ should lead to loving which should lead to ‘obeying’ the Lord. His standard for living is clearly mapped out in scripture, but to live it you must read it and know it. How can you live it if you don’t read and know it? Saying you don’t understand it to read it is no excuse, because if you ask, the Holy Spirit will enable you to understand what the Bible is saying. 

                  John MacArthur* has a clear and insightful statement regarding loving and obeying God: “true saving faith is manifest by works produced by God in the transforming, regenerating power of the Spirit. Those works are expressions of the love which the Spirit pours into the believer’s heart.” ^[1] In other words, living God’s word produces faith-works by the Holy Spirit within you. Your obedience is what causes you to deepen your relationship with him. Your obedience is to be a habitual practice as evidenced by our love for Christ and the Father.

                  “Obedience is not, however, the condition of God's love for humans but the proof of their realization of his love and of their love for him.” ^[2] Not only can nothing separate us from the love of God, but there are no conditions placed upon that love. ^{[Romans 8:38-39]} It is in loving God that we obey him thus allowing us to realize our ultimate goal, which is eternity with him in heaven. God is just, fair, and merciful so I do not know what becomes of those who choose not to know him deeper or obey his word. That is above me and left in God’s hands. He is the judge, not any of us. I suppose the question then would be, why wouldn’t someone who said they loved God NOT at least attempt to know and obey his word? It’s a mystery to me. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resources: www.biblegateway.com; 

[1] John MacArthur Study Bible, 2^nd Edition.

[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament

* John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and president of The Master's College & Seminary.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

2 Corinthians 10:12 “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

          Those in society who deem themselves good find themselves setting a standard to live by that is solely devised by themselves. They feel they have a firm grasp regarding what is good and what is evil and act according to those standards which they themselves have set. They never consider God, but rather feel no need to due to the supposed logical nature of their thinking. How could they possibly be wrong in their assessment? It makes sense to them and is something that they can live by without breaking a sweat. It is mind boggling how people can conjure up all sorts of ways to work their way to heaven in their own minds. They feel no need to trouble themselves with the untidy details of the crucifixion or the resurrection. That is for the weak minded. They believe in God; they just don’t feel the need a crutch to survive like some. Measuring ourselves by ourselves is like sailing close to a rocky shoreline at night without the aid of a lighthouse. They cannot see the reality of their danger without first surrendering their will. Only then do the blinders come off.

          We are supposed to compare ourselves to God so that we realize our current state. They have no idea how to direct their lives successfully by any standards other than our own contrived set of rules. Free will allows us all a choice. To follow a path of our own choosing is unwise. Some Christians even talk themselves into believing their own definition of good. If we would only let go of the wheel and let God take over. We are foolish to think we can do anything pleasing to God without knowing Christ for He made it clear in John 15:5 when He says emphatically “without me you can do nothing”. We are incapable of being consistently good according to God’s own word. 

 

Luke 18:19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good— except God alone."

 

Rom 3:12b "… there is no one who does good, not even one."

 

          Anything a believer does that would have any eternal implications or value must be done in conjunction with Christ, for without Him we are nothing. We can do our own thing or do God’s thing. It’s our choice. When we compare ourselves to Christ rather than ourselves, we see how far off the mark we truly are. God loves us and seeks to guide and direct us into blessing and fulfillment by His Spirit. We cannot achieve this on our own. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

         While it is true that God wishes NONE to perish and be cast from his sight, sadly there will be those as described in the Book of Revelation that will reject God & the salvation he offers. We are to pray for our enemies and those who would persecute us. Having said that, rest assured that revenge is for the Lord to dole out and it will be administered in no small measure. Evil may be all around us, but the Holy Spirit shall protect us. Have faith and trust in God for his will shall come to fruition in the appointed time.

            I know there are many of you who may be questioning God with regards to why certain events have been allowed to take place in the world lately. My wife and I discussed this briefly the other evening. I’ve walked with the Lord since 1979 and I still don’t understand why God allows certain things to take place. My capacity to understand is infinitesimal compared to our Lords, which would explain my questions that appear to have no answers. Perhaps many of you feel the same way.

I have walked with God for too long and trusted him in all kinds of situations to turn my back on him now when I have serious questions regarding the “why” of things. I trust though I do not understand, because we are not asked to understand, only to trust. I’ve known folks who have turned their back on God due to their lack of understanding as to why certain things in the world have taken place. Like why some are killed unjustly, and others live to a ripe old age despite their sin. Like why infants contract deadly diseases and die without having a chance to live. Life is filled with far too many questions and we would spend the rest of our earthly lives seeking answers that cannot be found. The answers are in the mind of God. You either trust him or you do not. I do. How about you? Are you willing to serve a God who doesn’t explain his every action to you? You’ll have to or not bother believing in God at all. I apologize if that sounds harsh, I don’t mean it to, but frankly, if I understand anything about our Creator, he owes none of us any explanation as to what happens this side of heaven. This has been a little bit of a ramble, but I’m sorting thru some things in my own mind and thought you might benefit from it somehow. Anyway, my faith is strong, and my trust is unshakable. Trusting without understanding can be difficult, but only if you let it be. I am confident that all will make sense in the end. However, things will transpire as God wills it whether I believe or accept it or not. As the saying goes: “Time waits for no man.” *Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*The entire quote goes like this: “The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” - Alice Morse Earle (1851-1911) [American Historian & Author]

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

Living a Worthy Life

 

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” - Ephesians 4:1 _(NIV)

            Paul, writing from his prison cell, urges the Ephesians to live lives worthy of the calling of Christ. He clarifies what he is referring to in the following verses … be gentle, be patient, be loving and be unified. He is speaking to the believers of his day. Today, we seem to be distracted by everything that comes our way. Living a life that is worthy of being called a Christian seems the furthest thing from our minds. We have so many other things that we have deemed more important that simply must be done.

            We can be just as effective as human beings in this life if we live our life worthy of Christ’s calling. We are His ambassadors; we represent Him everywhere we go and in everything we do. Are we making a good showing or misrepresenting the name of Christ by our words and deeds. God enables us to live for Him. Many believe living as a Christian is restrictive, but in fact nothing has ever been so liberating. God wants what is best for us always. Give your all to Him and see what happens. Until Christ’s Return, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

Listening vs. Hearing

James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  

         In this world there are listeners and hearers. A person can listen to someone speak all day long but not hear a thing they’re saying. What is being said becomes nothing more than a clanging cymbal as the message goes unheard.  Many a glowing sermon has been preached that has never been heard because of a sense of indifference.  To some just being in church seems to matter more than actually receiving any spiritual food.  We should be sponges, soaking up any spiritual knowledge we can, for to know Him is to trust Him and to trust Him will bring us to a place where worry less allowing blessings to flow more freely.

         We deceive ourselves into thinking we are okay with God just because we attend services, but all the services in the world will not change our heart or our mindset.  God is extremely patient with us, but don’t mistake His patience as a sign of weakness.  His patience is borne out of love for us, plus an understanding that we are frail and even on our best day will not measure up to His standards.  That is where His mercy and grace kicks in.  

We cannot live a life that is pleasing to God unless we follow the standard He’s set forth in scripture. In our imperfection we come to realize that our Lord’s patience allows for many mistakes as long as we are sincerely trying to please Him with our lives. Those things said to us will actually begin to be heard and if we let them, they will revolutionize our walk with God.  Listen, but also hear all that we are told from scripture that we may be a blessing to God and others.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

In the Hands of God

Jeremiah 29:11-13 New Living Translation 

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

We make plans for our future so that we do not do without. We set up retirement funds so that we feel secure; however, the winds of change can make any plans seem unreliable. In the face of uncertainty we can know a security that remains constant because the giver of that security is constant. God has a future and a hope for all who seek Him with their whole heart. He will cause us to be prosperous (“even as our soul prospers” – 3 John 1:2) and keep us from harm. Prosperity in Christ may mean financial prosperity, but there are so many more important things than that in this life.  Spiritual prosperity enables us to be more like Christ in our daily walk.  The things of God cannot be purchased, but rather are there for the asking.  God freely gives blessings that lift up and encourage us as we strive to serve Him with our whole heart.

God’s plans do not fluctuate or fade away due to a lack of resources or contrary spirit. No, God keeps His promises; therefore, we can find peace in the fact that God will not let us perish or fall by the wayside. He is our Heavenly Father; the One who watches over us every moment of every day and knows what we need. Nothing escapes His gaze, and nothing shall take us down. If Allstate Insurance can boast that they are “The Good Hands People”, how much greater must it be to be in the hollow of God’s hands. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries