AVOIDING SEXUAL SIN

1 Corinthians 6:18 New Living Translation 

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

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

            Being a man, I see the male side of it. Many are stimulated by visual enticements. Their predatory instincts kick in and they go on the hunt for something that they have no right to in the first place. This is why I stress that we focus intently on the Lord and his directives. 

            So if you feel the pull of some low hanging forbidden fruit, don’t walk, run away in the opposite direction, because nothing good will come of a future association with said fruit. Here are some other verses regarding illicit affairs for you to look up. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Exodus 20:14; Hebrews 13:4; James 4:17; Proverbs 6:32; Matthew 5:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Luke 18:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Mark 7:20-23 and Matthew 15:17-20.

BE FEARLESS BY TRUSTING GOD

Psalm 56:3-4 New Living Translation

“…when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

            While it’s true that mortal men and women can do you much financial, mental and physical harm, and even take your life, the one thing they cannot do is rob you of your soul.  To those who are fearful of dying, fear not, for God is with you wherever you go and will allow not anything outside his will for you to take place in your life. I wish I could explain all this, but frankly, some things simply cannot be explained, at least this side of heaven. Understanding is not a part of the faith package. Faith believes in the unseen. It doesn’t require facts or your comprehension. Whether you believe or not doesn’t change a thing. A person not believing in God doesn’t cause him to cease existing. Believing Jesus Christ was nothing more than a good man, prophet and teacher doesn’t cause him to cease being the Son of God. 

            If you choose to believe that God is trustworthy, then you should without hesitation put your trust in him just as David did. The Bible is full of promises fulfilled, but you first have to believe the Bible is God’s word and is flawless and unchanging. If you have a better option for your life then by all means, go for it.

            We become fearful of things we don’t see coming or don’t understand. You must jettison your fear in favor of unbridled faith for in reality mortal man can do nothing of any eternal and lasting consequence to you. This is why believers down thru the ages kept their faith in spite of their circumstances. They were mocked and tortured and even killed for their beliefs, but they knew in their heart of hearts that all would be made right in the end and Christ was waiting for them on the other side. If you can believe the unbelievable, then cling to it tenaciously and never let go, because God is real and nothing can rob you of your redemption.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

A FINAL LOOK AT JAMES

James 1:19-27 New Living Translation

                  ¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger^[a] does not produce the righteousness^[b] God desires. ²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

                  ²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

                  ²⁶ If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

            In verse 26, James tells his readers to use self-control when it comes to their speech. It’s imperative that you are consistent, not one-way in public and another way in private. We are expected to at the very least have a deep, abiding desire to be like Christ in this life. Saying you’re a Christian without living like one only causes confusion for those you meet. 

            Back in Jesus’ day widows and orphans were left to fend for themselves; therefore, it had become a vital ministry of the church. The Lord sees the believer giving without any hope of a return and is pleased, for that is what a follower of Christ is supposed to do. Forget throwing money at a problem. Put your heart and soul into ministering to those less fortunate, for this is what God expects from us. It’s called doing for others what you would have them do for you and is a hallmark of the Christian life.

            So in looking over the entire portion of scripture again we find that anger and bitterness have no place in a Christian’s life. Hearing but never truly listening to God’s word and applying it directly to our lives are ‘worthless endeavors’ that benefit no one. We must refuse to allow the world to corrupt us by focusing on Christ daily. We’re not perfect and never will be, but as we strive toward perfection we will grow spiritually. The more time we spend on the things of God the stronger our faith will become. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Words of Wisdom

A SECOND LOOK AT JAMES …

James 1:19-27New Living Translation

¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger^[a] does not produce the righteousness^[b] God desires. ²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

                                    ²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

                                    ²⁶ If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

            This is the second in a study of James 1:19-27. Here we read that James is imploring his readers to not just listen to what God’s word says, but truly hear and then do what it says. What good would it do if you read the entirety of scripture yet didn’t remember any of what you just read? There is power in the word of God to change lives, but it is powerless to those who pay little to no attention to its meaty content.  Those who intend to live a godly life will feast on the riches of the word and then practice what it says.

            In James day mirrors were not as they are today. They were made of polished metal, however, a clear image could still be seen. So if you read the word of God and then do not remember or apply it’s message to your life it is like gazing upon your own image in a reflective surface then turning away forgetting what you look like. 

            It really comes down to priorities. What is most important in your life? Since God’s promises have yourlife covered, you are free to concentrate on other things. The most important thing you should focus on is living a godly life, for what good is it to anyone if you simply go about your business without imitating what God has laid before us in his word. The Bible isn’t full of suggestions or options, but rather instructions that God fully expects the ardent believer to follow. Why? Because in all his wisdom man hasn’t come up with a plan that comes close to matching the majestic superiority of God’s plan for us. Man’s plans are nothing more than a faint and feeble knockoff of the Master’s plan.  God’s plan is one that forgives, provides, instructs and guides us all the way to heaven with him for all eternity.

            In closing I’d like to say that we absolutely should not obey God simply for his blessing. We should obey God because we feel compelled to. We have a desire to please the one person who truly knows and loves us in spite of ourselves. We are blessed because of God’s wonderful and matchless grace. Willingly serve God because that is where truth lies, not in anything this world has to offer. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible; The Life Application Study Bible.

A LOOK AT JAMES

 James 1:19-27 New Living Translation

            Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

            22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

            26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

[ Note: Over the next several days I will break down these 9 verses                                                                                       from the Epistle of James. I will write regarding the 3 verses highlighted in yellow today. ]

            To start with let me define the term Epistle, for the official title of this book is The Epistle of James. An Epistle is a letterthat is formal in nature. All the books of the New Testament from Romans to Jude were letters either to a specific person known by the author or to a body of believers who were initially visited by him. The author was probably the one who planted the church to begin with. The nature of the letters depended on what news had gotten back to the writer regarding the well being of the congregation. In the case of James letter, its purpose was to expose hypocritical practices among the brethren and make sure his readers knew how to live properly as a follower of Christ.

            James addresses the thought that anger serves no godly purpose. Rather than blowing our top about something we can do nothing about, we need to listen intently and keep our mouths closed.  It is much easier to avoid a public display of anger for the world to see if we start by listening rather than speaking. We must also ask for God’s help to purge from us the filthy thoughts and foul language we use when our guard is down and our old carnal nature is allowed to rear its ugly head. Such things have no place in the life of a believer in Christ. Know that the devil doesn’t play fair and will always aim for your weak spot. He is a defeated foe who has no hold on us unless we give him a foothold. He will drag you down to a place you do not want to go in you aren’t careful. Stay well fed on God’s word.         

            Reading God’s word is an active endeavor. It’s not just listening yet never hearing; we are expected by God to actually do what it says. Why else would it exist but to guide and instruct his followers? To read the word of God and NOT do what it says is like looking in a mirror at your own reflection and when turning away, forget what you look like. That’s quite an indictment. Remember that we are never learning anything new when we are speaking, only when we are listening. Over time we will understand the significance of seeing our faith not as religion, but a personal relationship, for God treats us like a son and not a stranger. God desires the best for us and will take us there if we allow him to. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.

NOTE: This look at James is not meant to be an exhaustive study of the text, but a brief look at certain key verses to understand their basic meaning.

LIVING TO PLEASE GOD

Romans 12:1-2 New Living Translation

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

            If you truly want to worship the Lord, live a holy life. I don’t feel this means you must cloister yourself away from the world, unless you know in your heart that is what God is calling you to. It means to live a holy, godly life in spite of the world around you. It means to focus on one thing in the midst of a hundred other things. We have responsibilities to family and church, but if our personal relationship with Christ is the driving force in our life then we will incorporate every other area of our life with our walk with God.

            Paul had told the Roman believers not to imitate the customs and behavior of the world, for nothing the world does is pleasing to God. We can do as we please but not all things are for our benefit. The Lord knows what we could never know and that is the future of things. He knows where we’ll end up if we go it alone as opposed to following the path he has charted for us. The only way we can grow into the person God knows we can be is to draw close to him and listen. 

            We all like to talk, perhaps a little too much at times. God needs us to listen to the still, small voice of the Spirit as he speaks to our spirit. Those things that apply to the church in the Apostles day hold true for us today. So when Paul admonishes, instructs or praises his contemporaries, we need to stiffen up and look at ourselves hard in the mirror. Is God talking to me thru his word? We must be teachable. If we aren’t, well, the Holy Spirit isn’t going to ram teaching down our throat. You need to be willing to receive what God wishes to share with you. Trust God in all areas of your life and you will become a mighty force for God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible. 

BUILDING UP OTHERS

Romans 15:2 New Living Translation

“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.”

            Paul’s statement previous to the above verse is that we are to be considerate of others who are not as spiritually mature as us. He also writes that we aren’t to just please ourselves. Sorry folks, but we are supposed to be on the bottom of the totem pole. God first, spouse second, others third and ourselves last. 

We should always seek to encourage and edify those around us, whether they are a believer or non-believer. Be real, not fake. God knows we aren’t perfect so let the world see you in your rawest form. I don’t mean we should be course or rude, but we are what we are and until the Lord’s work is done we’ll not be finished. Be relevant, be genuine, be forgiving, be merciful … allow God to use you, for he uses the lesser things to bring down the prideful. 

            This is precisely why I have been banging the drum about imitating Christ. Once we’re redeemed we have a job to do, a responsibility, so to speak. God doesn’t need us, but chooses to use us to minister as his Ambassadors to a fallen world.  As Pastor Rick Warren famously said, “It’s not all about you!” That’s a hard pill for some of us to swallow, but it’s a necessary metamorphosis that must take place so we can be more like Christ. Our plans need to be placed on the back burner at times, but the Lord never short changes his children. Trust him and do that which you feel impressed to do. If it’s the Spirit of God you’ll either immediately or eventually know it. 

            If you’re anything like me, and I pray you are not, you would have horrible concentration. Is it any wonder I call some of my writings “Thoughts From a Random Mind”. But the Lord can enable me to focus when it is most important and since he is no respecter of persons he can enable you as well. Talk to him like you would a most trusted friend. Try to do more listening than talking. You can listen to him speak to your heart thru the reading of his word, listening to a sermon or the lyrics from a meaningful song. Hone your focus to where you can fixate on something or someone and draw from them all the Lord wants you to have. In the end you will be blessed and others will begin to see Christ in you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Thoughts From a Random Mind

GRACE – God’s favor, which is totally undeserved.  I’m not sure any of us are fully aware of the magnitude of this gift that God freely offers to us all. It’s like being sentenced to death only to receive a reprieve at the last possible moment. It’s like being given the power to change the resulting consequences for a big mistake made. It’s like being lifted out of quicksand by a strong-armed man. It’s all that; however, in reality nothing compares to the grace that lies before us. In fact I don’t think there are words in any language that adequately describes or defines the grace of God. 

            God’s grace is motivated by his deep, abiding, never-ending, everlasting love for his creation.  Nothing compares to such a love. It is infinite and eternal. Even the deepest, most passionate worldly love ends over time, but this could never be true of God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning of all things and the end of all things, therefore as long as God IS his love shall exist and so will his grace. 

            You are worthy of his love and favor because he says you are and not because of anything you have or could ever do. Isn’t that spectacular news? Now go live like you believe it! rlkeller

GOD USES WHAT THE WORLD CASTS ASIDE

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 New Living Translation

“Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world; things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.  As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.”

            This word from Paul is for all the Christians who feel they are not worthy of being used by Almighty God. It isn’t what you have or don’t have in the way of finances or material goods that matter, it’s what gifts he has given you and how you use them. The Lord gives gifts to all his children. It’s a matter of finding out what it or they are and seeking to use them with the Spirits assistance for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. That is an integral part of his will for your life.

            The interesting thing about all this is that it matters not how much or how little money you have, because money is inconsequential. Just a tool used by God to accomplish his will. It has no bearing on who he chooses to use. You can be the most powerful and influential man or woman on earth, but in spite of that, your power would still pale in comparison to the unlimited power of the God who created all things.

            The Lord uses the opposite of what the world would use. The world uses the most beautiful, most wealthy, most popular, strongest individuals to accomplish their purposes. Those individuals are financially compensated for their time and talent. God calls people who are not self-absorbed, but rather may think very little of themselves. God can only those who are willing to surrender control and be used, without compensation, to accomplish his purposes which are always for the betterment of the recipient.  So take heart brother / sister, you are of great value to the Lord and he wants to use you. Simply ask him to show you what your gifts are if you don’t already know and how they can be used for his glory. Then wait for the Holy Spirit to lead you. Whatever you ask according to his will for you he will do when the time is right. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 1:18 New Living Translation

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”

            We live in a corrupt society, just as the Corinthian believers did at the time of Paul’s writing. There was a lack of unity and order in the local churches and Paul was addressing these issues in this first letter to the brethren. Those in society scoffed at the message of the cross, no doubt thinking of it as a crutch for the weak willed. Living what we believe flies directly in the face of the philosophy of the world, which is exactly what Paul was instructing the Corinthians to do. Foolishness is foolishness, no matter what form it comes in and man hasn’t changed all that much. For all his advancements he still looks right past that which can save him in his attempt to grab at the brass ring. 

            As we pray for those who are perishing, we also must live out our faith daily so there is a godly example for them to see. It’s only natural that the world will buck at the message of the cross. The world doesn’t have to DO anything and that baffles them, because that’s what they were taught. Work hard to attain that which you most want. Now they are being asked to simply accept something that cannot be seen. That’s illogical. The truth confounds the wise. The message is simple. Our response can get complicated.

            There is no doubt that destruction is coming for those who shun the gospel. There will be no escaping it. A reckoning is coming; a settling of accounts. For those who are believers in Christ, draw ever closer to the Lord. For those who chuckle and continue to go their own way, better make sure you’re right. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom

Thoughts From a Random Mind

ON BEING HUMAN

                  We are all painfully human. Whether Christian or non-Christian, we feel pain, we get confused, depressed, irritated, aggravated, frustrated, angry, sad and perplexed. In spite of everything God has done for us and means to us we still allow ourselves to suffer great angst when it comes to situations that confront us. Our focus becomes easily skewed causing our first reaction to be negative until the Holy Spirit reboots our thought processes. 

                  We are not alone. The Apostle Paul had days when he struggled to do the right thing. 

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? “

                  One way we can definitely relate to the unbeliever is thru the associated pains of living life. We mustn’t sequester ourselves away, afraid to face the unknown that lives next door or down the street.  Aside from salvation we are all very much the same, cultural differences notwithstanding. Our basic needs are the same, though our likes and dislikes are different, molded by outside influences.  Living out our faith can speak much louder than the words we say, for words ring hollow in light of our actions. 

            By the way, there isan answer to Paul’s anguished final question in the very next verse. “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Paul was beside himself with grief over his troubling behavior, yet he still knew the answer. The answer to any and every problem we will ever have is Jesus. He understands what we’re going thru and by the Holy Spirit has the power to rescue us from this body of death. Don’t allow yourself to be glum or depressed, thinking things are hopeless. That is a lie from the pit of hell. When you walk with Christ there is always hope. Never forget, no matter what you may be going thru, to place the entirety of your faith and trust in Almighty God, the Savior of men. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT

“Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb^[1]  , so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.”

            There are many uncertainties in life. Unpredictable things. Things that are erratic. Mysterious things. Above we see two mysterious things that take place every day and yet are inexplicable. Who can see the wind or the path it takes? We can see the effects of the wind, but not the wind itself. Then there’s the mystery of human life forming in the womb of a mother.  It isn’t happenstance, it’s calculated. Just as a full orchestra has many pieces that play in conjunction with each other, so the various created parts of God’s universe act in conjunction with his will. 

            God knows all things and can do anything he so chooses. It is not for the creature to challenge the creator, although we do. God allows it as a means of teaching us valuable lessons. We’re good at asking questions, but not as good listening to the lesson being taught. Its all part of the maturation process that a follower of Christ goes thru.

            Non-believers let questions thwart their search for truth. They really don’t want the answers, for they have already convinced themselves that they are right. They ask with the attitude of trying to stump the master. Understanding is nonessential; in fact it’s down right unimportant. We are never asked to understand, we are only asked to trust and obey by faith. In that regard we have one up on the non-believer. We seek expecting to find which is the opposite of those outside the faith. Always trust God to work all things out for his ultimate glory and our best interest. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; biblegateway.com.

^[1]Some manuscripts read “Just as you cannot understand how breath comes to a tiny baby in its mother’s womb.”

 NLT - New Living Translation

FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY MADE

Psalm 139:13-14 NLT

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

            There are many choices we have to make in this life; some have eternal consequences. First, we must decide if God is real. That’s a choice we must make for anything else to make even the slightest bit of sense. If God is real, then what about his word, the Bible? That’s another important choice we must make. If we choose to believe that God’s word is true in its entirety, then the verses above become important to us. The God we say we believe in formed each one of us in our mother’s womb. The complexity of the human body is a miracle. So when people say to you that they don’t believe God does miracles any longer, tell them to simply hold up their own hand and study it. Tell them to move each finger and see that each one can move either individually or in unison with the others.

            A person doesn’t have to believe any of this, but then how do they explain anything. I dare say it takes more faith to believe in Darwinism and evolution then it does to believe there is a God. Evolution is nothing more than a theory. Theories are not based on fact. A theory is nothing more than “A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena … “. Men and women dedicate their entire lives seeking to define life’s biggest questions. Where do we come from? How did we get to the state we are in now? Where do we go after we die? God provides all those answers but because he cannot be experienced with one’s senses he is dismissed. Faith is nothing more than a crutch for the weak, they say. 

            The genius of man can manufacture and assemble the tiniest pieces that go into a Swiss timepiece. But man, in all his wisdom, cannot create man. If you choose to believe we came from a single cell piece of slime or monkeys, then that is your business, but you better be very certain. As for me and my house, we will place our complete faith and trust in a God we cannot see and serve him until the day we die. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

NLT - New Living Translation

Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom

EXHIBITING MERCY

Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

            It is my contention that it is much easier to be bitter, angry, slanderous, filled with rage and/or spew out harsh words to another individual then it is to forgive, treating others with tenderhearted mercy. Based on our past and the many non-spiritual influences we’ve had in our lives, I believe that it has become almost a reflex action (or reaction) to allow evil to dictate our thoughts, words and actions. Those who surrender their life and will over to the one and only true God will find that spewing evil will become less of a reflex and more of a hesitation. 

            The new teachings that we inject into our minds thru the reading and hearing of the word of God will start to take hold, pushing aside that which is displeasing to our Lord. It will begin to become more agreeable to us to forgive than seek revenge. We desire will more and more become to act and react as Christ in each daily situation. 

            The whole concept found in the gospels teaches us to “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”^[1]It would be a sad day indeed for us if we received from God that which we doled out. Unless we want to bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit we must start to listen for him and to him for he knows the way we should go, what we should be doing and what we need to say. It is by the great mercy and undeserved favor of God that he forgives us. It has nothing to do with the forgiveness we offer those who offend us. Since Christ readily and freely forgave those who murdered him without them even asking, so we are to forgive any and all transgressors who come against us. Lead with love and mercy will follow. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] Matthew 6:14-15; 18:35; Mark 11:25

NLT – New Living Translation

Words of Wisdom

SEASON YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH GRACE

Colossians 4:5-6 NLT

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”

            We must understand in our attempts to win the lost for Christ that our way of thinking and our special Christian jargon are completely foreign to those outside the faith.  We must become relatable without softening the message. There is never any need to scold, judge or chastise someone outside our faith, for we haven’t been called to do that. During his ministry years Jesus never blasted the non-believers, he unloaded on the religious leaders and others who should know better than to act as they did.

            To the non-believers he showed his humanity. He should them mercy and comforted them. He healed them of their sicknesses and even raised some from the dead. The religious leaders couldn’t have been more contrary regarding these things if they tried. It seemed as though everything Jesus said and did was against some religious law. The laws they said Jesus broke were not God’s laws, but the additional restrictive and binding laws that the Pharisees tacked onto God’s law to keep control over their people.

            The key to having a winning witness and a testimony that honors the Lord is to imitate Christ in all areas of your life. I’ve been trying, but it’s difficult. There’s too much human in me to excel, but I’m working on it. It’s my goal to have people notice something very different about me when they see me. People have often been drawn to me thru the years and for that I credit the Lord. Ask God to show you how to exercise humility and become selfless in a world of incredible self-absorption. He will answer that request … I guarantee it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

NLT – New Living Translation

OF ONE MIND

Romans 8:26-27NIV 

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” 

            Our relationship with God is a tremendous blessing to us in that we no longer are left to handle life with only our own resources. Those who think they can handle things all on their own don’t realize what assets they are leaving untouched. The Holy Spirit of God, an integral part of the Holy Trinity, comes to live inside you when you receive Christ as Lord and Savior. The key to that is that the Spirit and God are one, even as Christ and God are one. So when life tries to give you a knock out punch and you don’t know how to pray for help, the Spirit, who is in lockstep with the Father, prays on your behalf. The Father, who knows the mind of the Spirit, also knows your heart. Therefore, with that as a resource we can count on the Lord not only always knowing our situation, but always providing the very best solution. 

            It’s important that we wait for his solution because it needs to be within the parameters of his perfect will for us. Sadly, too many times we move when we should wait. God understands, but cannot help you if you won’t wait for him. It can be difficult to wait at times. We feel like we should be doing something, anything on our own behalf. Many times the waiting period is a test to build patience, which helps build our character.  It’s far better to rest in the Lord then to march off thinking you know exactly what needs to be done. Wait patiently for the best possible result. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

CHRIST’S RETURN

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 New International Version

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”

            Our redemption from sin is solely due to Christ’s death on a cross. Our salvation will be complete once we get to heaven. We are expected to remain faithful to God and live not with the hope, but with the expectation that Christ will return for us at any time. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”John 14:1-3 ESV

            I believe Christ’s return will be very sudden: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”Matthew 24:27 ESV  “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”  1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV Scripture tells us no one knows when Christ’s return will be, not even Christ himself: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Matthew 24:36 ESV“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2 NLT “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44 ESV

            A thief in the night is a perfect illustration, because who expects a thief to break in to your home while you are sound asleep. What will transpire Hollywood only wishes they could replicate, but I believe this will be quite a spectacle to behold.  Just as the suddenness of the rain coming in Noah’s day, I believe the suddenness of souls being taken up to meet Christ in the clouds will cause people left behind to moan and cry for mercy and that they could go too. But it will be too late. Those who have faithfully and diligently stayed the course and lived a life that was pleasing in the sight of God will reap their ultimate reward. We don’t need to live a perfect life, but rather a life of faith led by the Spirit.  A life filled with love and not hate.  A life filled with mercy and not revenge.  A life that is a reflection of Christ’s own life. Christ will return for us. Is your heart ready? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Note: ESV – English Standard Version of the Bible; NLT – New Living Translation.

Any and all definitions were taken from the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

WE ARE SECURE IN THE FATHER

John 10:28-30 New Living Translation

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

            I’d like to shine a light on the last statement of this portion of scripture, “The Father & I are one.”Is Jesus literally God or does he display the characteristics of God? The word I encounter a lot regarding the Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit), is ‘essence’.  The essence of something or someone is it’s “fundamental nature”; therefore the fundamental nature of the three parts of the Holy Trinity is the same. All three had a part in Creation and in salvation. They are identical in essence or in their fundamental nature.

            Now for the idea of eternity we must understand that its concept is based on man’s understanding of scripture. Eternity is a never-ending period of time. Remember, to God time is irrelevant. 2 Peter 3:8 spells that out for us with the following verse: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” There are those who say it is quite possible that Creation wasn’t a literal day as in 24 hours, but rather each “day” represented either a thousand or thousands of years. To me that is irrelevant, but it is interesting to consider. In actuality it changes nothing in the end. 

            The all-powerful nature of God allows that we are safe in the hollow of his mighty hand. Unless we choose to jump overboard, we are safe from being removed from his care. Nothing can separate us from God. Only we can separate ourselves by turning our back and walking away. If you think you’re missing out on some wonderful life outside of God’s control you are mistaken. Nothing is outside his control and you will never avoid the consequences that follow any decision you make. Rest in the knowledge that if you rely on and trust God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength you will win, in spite of what you are facing now. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; www.thefreedictionary.com

Thoughts From a Random Mind

FAITH & THE STRUGGLE

            For all those who struggle with their Christianity, be at peace. At times we make our walk so difficult, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We need to take a deep breath,  exhale nice and slow and realize that our Heavenly Father has everything completely under control. Say it out loud – GOD HAS EVERYTHING COMPLETELY UNDER CONTROL! There’s nothing we could ever do that would irreparably damage our walk unless we turn from our faith. When things don’t go your way and you’re mired in a spiritual slump, that is not the time to turn your back on God. There’s no question that we can be challenged frequently, but challenge is good. If the road we travel was always smooth, straight and easy we would learn nothing. It is in the midst of our greatest trials that we learn our most important lessons.

            For all those who struggle to maintain their faith, be at rest. Your Heavenly Father knows of your struggles and will ease your burden by reminding you of all the promises he has laid out in his word. Frankly speaking, who else can do what God can do? I know of no one, do you? Nothing is impossible for him. He loves you in spite of you.  Let’s be honest; sometimes we all can simply put be jerks. Jerks to our friends, jerks to our families, just plain jerks. God loves us anyway and will help us dispel the jerkiness.

            For all those who struggle in life, reflect on all the Lord has done for you since you’ve known him. Miraculous things that may not have registered as such at the time. Obstacles that were easily maneuvered around. Mountain top experiences that helped hone you into all you can be for God. Your faith is a badge of  honor. No one said it would be easy, but it’s easier than we think it is and if we lean heavily on the Triune God we will slowly realize that what we’ve been told all along is true. That it’s a joy to follow Jesus. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!  rlkeller               

Thoughts From a Random Mind

          What is truly important in life? I know when I get perturbed about something at work I complain to myself about it and then come to the ultimate conclusion that it’s really not important & not worth being upset about so I promptly dismiss it. I wasn’t always like that. I would stew about things for hours. It affected my countenance and my attitude. People could look at my face to see how I was feeling; I projected negativism. As I have grown in the Lord over the years (and trust me it took a while) I have more of a tendency to overlook things or let them slide. Oh, I still get upset about some things, but the Holy Spirit helps me to allow the anger to dissipate, like water as it evaporates as steam.

            How do you handle situations that arise in your life … at home, at work, at school, during sports competition?  Do your emotions get the better of you? Do you lose control and allow the worst parts of your old nature surface? In the heat of the battle we can say and do very uncharacteristic things. When this happens in a Christian’s life the only thing we can do is ask the Lord for forgiveness, which surprisingly is the easy part. Facing strangers, peers or family members can be very difficult. It’s called ‘eating crow’and can be very humiliating. I know because I’ve had to come forward and ask forgiveness for overreacting to a given situation far too many times. 

          Let me conclude this by saying in this world both believers and non-believers are rarely allowed the luxury of being human … of being themselves. In those cases everyone seems to become either a critic or a judge and jury. Isn’t it funny how others seem to know better than you how to live your life? Do yourself a favor and follow God’s lead and regardless of how you are perceived, you’ll be all right. I’d rather be favored in God’s sight than man’s any day of the week. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

FAITH LIVING

Hebrews 11:6 New Living Translation

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those 
who sincerely seek him.”

            Martin Luther King, Jr. once said of faith, “Faith is taking the first step when you don’t see the whole staircase.”Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) puts it this way, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” However,acknowledging God’s existence is not where our journey ends. That’s just the beginning. What God desires is that our faith would blossom into trust that leads us to a dynamic personal relationship with him. That is the point of knowing God. 

            Those that mock God’s existence and those who have chosen not to believe it do so out of ignorance. People often make fun of that which they do not understand. Perhaps we aren’t doing a good job showing others the love of God or our faith in action. Perhaps we are so mired in the judgment of others that we have lost sight of that which is truly important in God’s eyes.

            Today’s verse speaks of a reward God gives to us. That gift starts with redemption; our sin debt paid in full and ends in spending all eternity in God’s presence. Unless one is committed to walking thru life with God, emulating his Son, they have missed the point. It’s no longer living for ‘me’, all the while giving God a head bob of approval, but livingfor God and others. It’s called selfless living. Since he is our Jehovah Jireh, “the God who provides”, we shall always be provided for. This frees us up to serve the Lord and allows us the opportunity to provide for others. We must walk our faith, not just talk about it.  We need to show people what it means to truly live by faith. We can’t do it without God’s involvement thru the leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s time to surrender!  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.