Thoughts from a Random Mind

            “Time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events that occur in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, to the future.”^[1] It is comprised of seconds, which are the base unit. Everything builds off that. 60 seconds equals 1 minute, 60 minutes equals 1 hour & 24 hours equals 1 day. 365 days equals 1 calendar year. Time is fleeting. “Time & tide wait for no man.”^[2]

                  As we stand at the doorway leading into a new calendar year we must reflect on our use of time. I confess I end up wasting far too much time on frivolous things. It reminds me of a line from Pink Floyd’s song “Time”. “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day. Fritter & waste the hours in an offhand way.”^[3] Any day as a Christian should never be dull, but we often find ourselves frittering & wasting far too many hours in an offhand way. There is so much we can be doing for the Lord and while everyone needs some ‘chill’ time every once in a while, too many of us tend to see the need to ‘chill’ every chance we get. I am writing this to ME as much as anyone else.

                  Scripture is very clear regarding time and man’s use of it. I am not good at using my time wisely. It readily escapes me. What about you? We’ve been given a second chance to live our lives righteously according to the Word of God. We all must do better with our time management. Before you know it the trumpet will sound and time will be no more. All the things we planned to do will be blown away like dust in the wind. We all must see to it that we place God first every day in all we do. He is the one who controls time. Now read these scripture regarding time. Take them to heart & apply them to your life with the Holy Spirit’s help.

2 Peter 3:8 – “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… .”

Ephesians 5:16 – “Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

James 4:14 - “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Psalm 31:14 – “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand… .”

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

Resources:

^[1] – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time

^[2] – Unknown origin; predates modern English. 

[3] – Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd; March 1,1973; Capitol Records.

Taking a Look at Isaiah

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” – Isaiah 55:6-7

            Chapter 55 speaks very directly to an invitation of eternal value. It is an invitation to the Lord’s Salvation. Statements like “Is anyone thirsty, come and drink – even if you have no money! … it’s all free!” and “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life.” It speaks of salvation, of the complete forgiveness of all one’s sins. It is prophetic. It has taken place and will continue to take place until the final trumpet sounds. Forgiveness for the asking, resulting in a changed life.  

            The above verse 6 tells men to seek God while he may be found, while he is near. It isn’t the Lord who moves away, but man who often moves away from him by erecting barriers of sin between God and us. These words in chapter 55 encourage all men to make things right with the Creator of all things before he comes to judge the earth. Then it will be too late. 

            No one can know the mind of God unless he reveals his thoughts to you. The Jews foolishly thought they knew what the Lord was thinking and planning and as a result stubbed its collective toe regularly. No one can squeeze God into his or her own mold. His ways are mysterious and do not line up with our own way of thinking. What we must do is strive to fit into his plans. His plans are meant to prosper all his children even as their soul prospers ^{(3 John 1:2)}. 

            For those who reject the existence of one true God, they will one day face the harsh reality of their mistake. The truth is that if there is no God man will die never having another conscious thought, so he will never know if there is no God. However, if there IS one true God and Creator of all things, man will know it for all eternity because he will not stay dead but rise up to face the White Throne Judgment of Almighty God. My understanding is that is for all who do not know Christ. Those who are children of the Most High God will stand before the Bema or Mercy Seat of Christ where they will give an account of all they have done on behalf of the Lord. Take advantage of God’s forgiveness while it is still available to you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

“The judgment seat of Christ does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves. Part of this is surely answering for the sins we committed. However, that is not going to be the primary focus of the judgment seat of Christ.” - https://www.gotquestions.org/judgment-seat-Christ.html

* The study of the final judgments is for another time.

Taking a Look at Isaiah

After a month’s holiday hiatus from the study of Isaiah we are back, taking another look at Isaiah 53.

“When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.”- Isaiah 53:11

            Last time we visited the brutal way in which Christ died. Now let’s focus on what that single act of obedience brought to fruition. Can you imagine how many souls were saved from everlasting damnation because Christ allowed his life to be taken from him? He in no way resisted what he knew he must endure. Think of the deep pain he must have felt being separated from his father even for a short time.  This torturous punishment was meant for you and me, yet he willingly took it on so we wouldn’t have to.

            We truly have no idea how many souls stand as righteous in God’s sight because of Christ’s substitutionary death. Are you among the souls counted as righteous? Have you shed your old life as a snake sheds its dead skin? If your answer is yes, then what are you doing with the knowledge that you are getting a do over?  Are you seeking to please the Lord with your life or are you simply continuing down the same path you travelled before?

            Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father, is satisfied by the huge volume of sinners who have turned from their old life to face the challenge of a new life guided by the Holy Spirit. God spoke thru Isaiah to let all the people know what had been preordained. It provided hope for mortal man. Life without hope is not much of a life, but hope realized causes our faith is rise up and our trust in God to expand. Christ is coming again for all those who have turned their life and allegiance over to the one true King of Kings. We don’t know when, but as we remain active for the kingdom the time will soon enough arrive. Christ enabled us to live eternally with our Creator God and so we live with great anticipation, expecting his return when God knows the time is right. Meditate on all Christ went thru for you. I am thoroughly convinced that because of the loving nature of Almighty God, he would have enacted his salvation plan even if there were only a handful of souls to be saved. I encourage you to think on Christ’s actions and apply them to your heart. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible.

IF CHRIST HAD NEVER COME

NOTE: Mrs. Charles Cowman compiled a devotional titled ‘Streams in the Desert’. It is a wonderful book. In it there is a devotional for Christmas Day entitled “If Christ Had Never Come”. This is my attempt at writing on the same topic.

          What if Christ had never come to this earth! Have you ever given that any thought? Do we truly comprehend the impact He has made on this world that He created? Over two thousand years ago God chose to have His Son be born on this earth as a conduit to our salvation. He was to be our deliverer. He would deliver us the sin that has so easily entangled us throughout the ages. What if He never came to earth? What if God, as a consequence of our separation from Him due to our disobedience decided to let us cook in our own juices, so to speak? Think of it … No churches dotting the landscape, so there would be no church bells tolling on the hour, every hour. No steeples rising to the heavens. No crosses to remind us of Christ and all He willingly accomplished on our behalf. No mention of God or Jesus. There would be no manger, no wise men, no shepherds. No story of Mary & Joseph. There would be nothing of any value or consistency to place our faith in. There would be no standard for living. There would be no angels, no miracles, no example of unconditional love. We would be on our own; left to our own devices and our own wisdom. If Christ had never come there would be no hope.

          Fortunately for us Christ DID come. Many shun Him, many try to remove Him from our collective conscience, but He is here. We should thank God daily for the coming of His Son for without Christ there is no forgiveness. Instead we can say with one voice rising up to the heavens – Glory to God in the Highest for His sent His Son to save us from our sin. Salvation has come to us all. Merry CHRISTmas!! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

May the true meaning of Christmas fill your hearts with joy, peace and love during this special time of the year. 

Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

How St. Nicholas became Santa Claus

“In the 16th Century in northern Europe, after the reformation, the stories and traditions about St. Nicholas became unpopular. But someone had to deliver presents to children at Christmas, so in the UK, particularly in England, he became 'Father Christmas' or 'Old Man Christmas', an old character from stories plays during the middle ages in the UK and parts of northern Europe. In France, he was then known as 'Père Nöel'.

            In some countries including parts of Austria and Germany, the present giver became the 'Christkind' a golden-haired baby, with wings, who symbolizes the new born baby Jesus. Early on in America his name was 'Kris Kringle'.  Later, Dutch settlers in America took the old stories of St. Nicholas with them and Kris Kringle and St Nicholas became 'Sinterklaas' or as we now say 'Santa Claus'!

            Many countries, especially ones in Europe, celebrate St. Nicholas' Day on 6th December. In The Netherlands and some other European Countries, children leave clogs or shoes out on the 5th December (St. Nicholas Eve) to be filled with presents. They also believe that if they leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas's horse, they will be left some sweets. St. Nicholas became popular again in the Victorian era when writers, poets and artists rediscovered the old stories. In 1823 the famous poem 'A Visit from St. Nicholas' or 'T'was the Night before Christmas', was published initiating Santa Claus coming down the chimney and having 8 reindeer.” 

            Santa Claus himself isn’t a bad symbol for giving help to those less fortunate in the form of money or small gifts, especially for the children. These are all innocent endeavors, but should never serve as a replacement for Christ. As the often seen sign says: “Keep Christ in Christmas”. For without Christ we have nothing and the celebration of Christmas is nothing more than a series of lifeless gestures based on the perpetual goodness of man, which is sporadic and often times conditional. rlkeller

From www.whychristmas.com

Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

 

Who was St. Nicholas?

“The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara in Asia Minor. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Those knew Bishop Nicholas throughout the land for his generosity toward those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas’ feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops’ begged alms for the poor—and sometimes for themselves! In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint’s horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.” From https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas

Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

As Christians we believe Christmas is the celebration of the birth of man’s redeemer, Jesus Christ. He was God’s only Son. He was sent to die in our place. An infant cannot know of such things and the parents, Mary & Joseph, were unaware of the reason for his birth. They knew God sent him. They knew the Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant, yet there was so much they didn’t know. This is no doubt why Mary wept so bitterly when he hung on a criminal’s cross for no reason other than man’s arrogance & impudence. Men who should have known better … religious men. The spiritual leaders of the Jews. With all the hate that existed then and still exists now, was Christ’s death worth it. Millions shall be saved because of his one selfless act. Yes, it was well worth it. 

Christmas has morphed into something materialistic, something to go into debt for. Our focus has shifted off the Giver of life onto the giver of laptops & PlayStations … nothing intrinsically wrong with that other than these things that surround us have begun to consume us. We are forgetting the reason for the season. We are ignoring the true meaning of the holiday in favor of temporal things. Gifts are wonderful and it is fun to exchange, but it should never be to the exclusion of honoring Christ, the one who bled and died for our disobedience … our sin.

If we ignored our wives the way we ignore the Lord we’d be divorced. As believers in Christ we must keep our priorities straight and our focus sharp. The Creator of the Universe and man’s first breath shouldn’t take a back seat to celebratory festivities, especially when the festivities focus on happiness, love and family alone. You see, those are honorable things to focus on but only with the inclusion of God, not his exclusion, He must be preeminent in each of our lives. Without Almighty God we would be lost in a very literal sense. Respect & revere the Lord for he is very much worth it. rlkeller

      

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

                  Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name “Christmas” comes from the Mass of Christ or the Christ Mass. A Mass is a service where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. The Christ Mass took place after sunset and before the sunrise of the next day … so people had it at Midnight. 

                  Christians and non-Christians alike now celebrate Christmas. It’s become a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. It’s also a time to give and receive gifts.

                  Regarding the holiday being on December 25^th, a very early Christian tradition said that the day when Mary was told she would have a very special baby, Jesus was on March 25^th.  Nine months after the 25th of March is the 25th of December!

                  Some people also think that December 25th might have also been chosen because the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called 'Saturnalia' and 'Dies Natalis Solis Invicti' took place in December around this date - so it was a time when people already celebrated things. It has also been said that at a time when persecution was high, Christians celebrated the birth of Christ quietly within the Pagan celebrations so as not to raise suspicions of their being followers of Christ.

                  The Jewish festival of Lights, Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev (the month in the Jewish calendar that occurs at about the same time as December). Hanukkah celebrates when the Jewish people were able to re-dedicate and worship in their Temple, in Jerusalem, again following many years of not being allowed to practice their religion.

                  Jesus was a Jew, so this could be another reason that helped the early Church choose December 25th for the date of Christmas!  So whenever you celebrate Christmas, remember that you're celebrating a real event that happened about 2000 years ago when God sent his Son into the world as a redemptive gift for all mankind.

Word for the Day

Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

                  The following post is speculative in that there is no solid proof, only information based on traditions passed down thru the years. 

            The 3 Wise Men were an integral part of the Christmas Story. Who were they? Where were they from? What was the significance of their gifts? Were there 3 or were there more than 3? These are all questions that will be answered in this writing.

            One Christian tradition holds that these men were members of a priestly class from ancient Persia whose names were Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. This is not known to be factual, only tradition passed down thru time. Another tradition was that Balthazar was from Arabia, Gaspar from India and Melchior of Persia. 

            They were not referred to in scripture as the “3” Wise Men, just “Wise Men”. The word “Men” implies more than 1. Since they travelled a great distance it’s stands to reason they would have had others with them, a caravan of sorts, as a security measure due to the dangers of travelling thru the desert, especially at night. The Bible simply says “some wise men from the eastern lands…”. (Matthew 2:1 NLT) No names, no description of their appearance, no verification as to their number … not much is known about them. They were referred to as Magi, Kings or Wise Men. Tradition tells us they were educated and that they were astronomers and astrologists. They studied the stars and that would be how they would know about the Star of Bethlehem. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose in the east and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2 NLT)

            The gifts mentioned, gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolized a specific element of Christ’s life. Gold, for Jesus was royalty as the “King of the Jews”. Frankincense represented the child’s holy nature as the Son of God and myrrh, which pointed to Jesus’ mortality.

            Did they visit Jesus as an infant or as a small child? Scripture makes it sound like he was newly born although it didn’t seem as though the Wise Men were there at the time of his birth. 

            The questions seem to be endless. All these topics, while interesting, have zero effect on anything having to do with God’s eternal plan. Whether there were 3 or 30 Wise Men matters little. The plan had been set in motion. Christmas is about the Christ child who was born to die for us all. 

Richard L Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

                  

                  The night sky is filled with stars, some bright, some a little dull, some near and some very, very far away. They make a light filled tapestry that is very impressive even to the most casual of observers. The further into the suburbs and out lying areas, away from all the light pollution the sky is transformed. The deeper darkness reveals billions more stars so that it almost looks like a thick starry blanket that covers the night sky. Beautiful is the only way to describe it.

            A little over 2000 years ago a certain star filled a small segment of the sky. It was said to have led the 3 Magi to where the Christ child lay. Some scientists and astronomers got together and tried to find out if it really was a star or other celestial bodies that were responsible for that certain big, bright light that night. That star provided the type of light that made travel a bit easier as it lit up the terrain that surrounded you as you continue your trek thru the night. There was speculation that it may have been 3 planets, all properly aligned at the time of Christ’s birth that could have been responsible for that great light. Others speculate that it may have been an mighty angel shining with the light of heaven,  that hovered over where Christ laid as a sign of the importance of this development. Or it could have simply been a star … a Star of Bethlehem. Regardless of what it was, it’s light drew those God desired to be present for the birth of his beloved Son. His Son who would live and die with the sole purpose of eradicating all sin from the hearts of mankind.

            There was nothing special about that star other than it being one of a myriad of conduits used by God to fulfill his purposes. Another piece in the mysterious puzzle that constituted his grand plan of salvation. Once the star had served its purpose it is never spoken of again. Another innocuous event in the lives of men that led to a greater purpose, a singular goal; the expulsion of sin from man’s heart. 

RL Keller

Author / Teacher / Speaker

Bread of Life Ministries

Yet Another Pre-Christmas Thought from a Random Mind

            Women get pregnant all the time. It’s the right of passage to motherhood. It’s something that has transpired throughout the years, generation by generation. But Mary was different. She was hand selected by God to carry HIS Son. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to deliver this message; Mary would give birth to a son who shall be called Jesus. I think it’s safe to say no one has had an experience like that before that time or since. So while women can relate to the experience itself, there is no way they could ever relate to how it all took place.

            Joseph was an honorable man. We know that because when he found out Mary was pregnant he decided he would help her because of the stigma that was borne out of what appeared to be an illegitimate pregnancy. He knew he couldn’t marry her under these conditions, but wanted to do the honorable thing.  Then Gabriel came to Joseph and told him it was all right for him to take Mary as his wife for she was pregnant by the hand of God. 

            The pregnant Mary endured travelling riding bare back on a donkey the entire trip that she and Joseph were to take. Speculation from scholars says the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was roughly 90 miles. They probably travelled about 20 miles per day making their trip take approximately 4 ½ days. Even though there were no rooms in the Inn, resting in a stable was probably a welcome break after their long trip. A donkey would play another prominent role in the life of Jesus as he entered into Jerusalem on the back of one as an adult. This beast of burden was a symbol of the simplicity demonstrated by Christ. Thought he was worthy of it, Jesus requested no gold covered carriage or throne. Rather he very specifically sent his disciples to fetch a donkey for his entrance. It was a sign of not only basic transportation, but a clear indication of  humility. This is an important trait in any follower of Christ. God is greater, I am the lesser. He is to take the lead in our lives, not us. 

In his name & for his glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

Another Pre-Christmas Thought From a Random Mind

             At this time of year the landscape becomes littered with manger scenes. Plastic ones that light up, life size ones that move and table top ones for the homestead. Some come with hay and a wooden crèche. Cultural history from that region tells us there may have been a variety of crèches  … some made of stone, some of wood, some cut out of a stone wall. I’ve read various articles regarding what type of crèche Jesus was laid in, but aside from tradition, cultural regularities or accumulated historical data, no one truly knows. 

            Man is a curious being. They have a need to know inconsequential information. Frankly, although it’s interesting (at least to some) to find out where Jesus was born, in what he was laid and what his surroundings were regarding personage and animals, the main topic to be discussed would be the birth.  I do see the significance in knowing about the 3 Wise Men. They traveled a great distance following a star in the sky to where the baby lay. They bore him gifts fit for a king and were Godly men due to their allowing an angel of God to advise them. I would imagine the presence of the animals and the overall scene itself reveals the common way in which Christ was born. Not in a palace, but in a stable with barn yard animals. A relatable scene to the vast majority of those he would minister to in future years.

            There was no heat, no creature comforts and no amenities, just beasts of burden, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. This scene is just the opposite of what you would expect for the birth of a king. God orchestrated this from the very beginning and worked out every detail with the precision of a highly skilled surgeon. Was Jesus really born on December 25^th? I doubt it. There are several theories as to when he was born, but all of that is inconsequential in the eternal scheme of things. The fact that needs to be focused on is that Jesus came, lived his life and died a criminal’s death so that we might live. That’s what can be called ‘the great exchange’! 

RL Keller 

 Author / teacher / speaker

Bread of Life Ministries

PRE-CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS FROM A RANDOM MIND

The message of the gospel is straining to be heard over the cacophony of noise the world provides at this time of year. Salesmen sound like Carnival barkers as they sell their wares. Sales for the next “latest, greatest” thing are soaring thru the roof. The giddy excitement of getting what you’ve always wanted. The numbness that hits you over and over as your credit cards become so overworked they are warm to the touch by the end of each day. That’s what Christmas has become and that’s what it is. But is that what Christmas is supposed to be all about?

The message of the gospel doesn’t hit you like the heavy-handed sound of a syncopated drumbeat. It’s the still small voice of peace and hope. Those who are drawn to it embrace it and follow its lead like the pillar of fire that led the Israelites out of Egypt. It speaks to our hearts about the Christmas story that was born over 2000 years ago. There are many explanations of just what a manger is. There is so much discussion about the time and the place and that which surrounded baby Jesus, that it almost overshadows the importance and miraculous nature of his coming.

       Christmas time is a time to reflect on the divine gift giver, rather than the gifts we receive, for their value is infinitesimal by comparison. We all need to focus on Christ at this time of year more so than any other time of the year for his coming is vastly important, not just to you and me, but to all mankind. His death cannot take place unless his birth comes first.

Learn to block out the wide variety of noises that attempt to break the sound barrier and hone in on the importance of birth vs. the resurrection. That is not to diminish Christ’s death and resurrection at all, but it is very much like the ‘which came first the chicken or the egg’ conundrum. We Christians must stay in touch with what our faith means to us as individuals because it is a very personal individual faith that we have. Don’t ever lose sight of what is truly important during this most wonderful holiday season.

       May God be praised both today and always!  

            rlkeller – Bread of Life Ministries 

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Holiday Thoughts from a Random Mind

What does giving thanks really mean? To a non-believer it typically means giving thanks for family, friends and the life they’ve carved out for themselves and their family. Very typical & acceptable. To the believer in God it means something else. To them every day is Thanksgiving or at least it should be, because a hefty price was paid to remove our accumulated sins. Christ is the only way to heaven in spite of what others may say. Christ is the only “religious personage” that was able to clean the stain sin had left on humanity. While we, as Christians, are thankful for our families, friends and yes, even our stuff as well, our grateful heart goes much deeper than that. When we look deep into our own heart we see a beaten Jesus being nailed to a wooden cross, killed as a common criminal. We see his blood flowing. We see the crown made from 2” long Judean thorns that had been rammed down onto his head and into his scalp and forehead. We see him die and our hearts weep for what he had willingly undertaken. For all that we are grateful … deeply grateful. An old chorus reverberates in our soul: “He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a glad new song ‘Amazing Grace’, Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.” 

            So on this day when we meet with family, eat too much good food and watch football on TV, let us not forget what was done for us, the ones whose faith and trust is solely in Almighty God. Without God what would we really have to live for? Christ’s substitutionary death gives us hope for an eternity with our Creator and peace in our hearts. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

RLKeller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Looking at Isaiah

“He was despised, and we did not care.” “… he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.” “…the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”  “… treated harshly, yet he never said a word.” “… he did not open his mouth.”  “Unjustly condemned, he was led away” – Isaiah 53

            I believe a man like Jesus Christ was despised because he made sinners very uncomfortable. What was sad was that the religiously inclined among the citizenry “did not care” that he was despised. He was physically beaten, yet he had done nothing wrong according to the laws of the day. This was God’s plan. It seems perhaps harsh to say this, but perhaps those who suffer a tragic loss should read the Passion of Christ to understand that they are not alone. God willingly gave up his only Son and that Son willingly followed his Father’s will so that we could live as if we’d never done anything wrong. That is a tremendous gift. The descriptive words still don’t do his punishment justice. They make you wince at the sound of them … pierced, crushed, condemned! This prophetic book shows it in the past tense as if it had already happened, because to God who sees all and knows vividly what will take place before it ever takes place sees his redemptive plan as already finished. To him it was.

            Think about the heaviest weight you’ve ever lifted. Now consider what all the sins of every human soul would weigh on a person’s heart. It is unthinkable. It would be impossible for any mortal man to withstand such weight. I would imagine their heart would burst. Christ, being God, could undertake such pressure and win. The constant negative verbal pounding also takes a toll on a man, yet Christ remained silent. He didn’t utter one solitary word in his own defense. He knew what must take place, so he endured to the point of death.

            If we think about it I think we can all agree that this life is filled with far too much injustice. Innocent people treated as if they are guilty before they’ve had due process. The Jewish leaders wanted him dead. It wasn’t good enough to shoo him off to another region … Jesus must die! We shall continue in chapter 53 next time. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!  rlkeller

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Looking at Isaiah

“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.” – Isaiah 52:13-15

            These verses give us a glimpse of Jesus prior to his appearance on earth. He is “the Suffering Servant” from scripture, for he suffered greatly to fulfill God’s salvation plan, set in motion at the dawning of time. When you read these verses visualize what he must have looked like based on the description given. 

            It’s curious to me that most of the cinematic portrayals of Jesus of Nazareth were of a strikingly handsome man. They would cast white skinned British actors and the like to be Jesus and while the movies themselves were pretty good, Jesus physical appearance was flawed. I think the 2016 Christian movie “Risen” shows Jesus as he could have looked. He was nothing special to look at appearance wise. Very middle Eastern in skin tone and physical appearance. He blended into his surroundings physically, but was very different in his thoughts, words and actions. People were compelled to listen and follow him because he spoke of love, kindness, mercy and compassion to your fellow man. The Holy Spirit was working on people’s hearts. Jesus gave them hope for a better tomorrow, something the religious leaders of the day did not.

            The verses above refer to the time when Jesus was being beaten & tortured by the Roman soldiers. Rome was polytheistic society; therefore the soldiers would have believed in a multitude of gods, such as, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva or perhaps no god at all. It was part of their culture. The soldiers were brutes who enjoyed exerting their will against others, so beating Jesus was no doubt sport for them. When all was said and done, once Jesus hung on the cross and the sky turned black, all were left to wonder just who this man Jesus was. When a bolt of lightning cracked thru the sky causing the temple curtain to be torn from top to bottom, giving men open access to Almighty God, there was little question to many just who Jesus Christ truly was. His resurrection and the spreading of the gospel message shook the world at that time to its core. Was he the Son of God as it had been said? You bet he was and his sacrificial death bought all of us our freedom from the bondage of sin. We will move on to Chapter 53 next. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Word for the Day

Looking at Isaiah

“You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.”- Isaiah 52:12

            Chapter 52 speaks of Israel’s return to the Holy City of Jerusalem. The verse used above references the fact that Persia’s King Cyrus allowed the Jews to leave Babylon in safety. As you will no doubt remember, Chapter 45 reveals that God had chosen to use a non-Jew to give approval to Israel’s return to Jerusalem, guaranteeing protection that they might have an uneventful migration. He was also going to provide protection for them to rebuild the city as well.

            Exodus was a different story. The Jews fled Egypt as quickly as their feet would carry them because they did not have permission to leave. This is what the Lord is referring to when he says: “You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives.” They were allowed to leave by the gracious hand of God. This tells us without question that God can use ANYTHING to manifest his will. The Jews never would have chosen a Gentile king from a rival nation to work on their behalf. God saw things much differently. King Cyrus respected other countries beliefs and was able to be used freely by the Lord to accomplish that which he wished to take place. 

            Once again referencing their fleeing from Egypt, God stated that he would go before them and follow behind them.  This should tell us that God’s protection for us surrounds us like a hedge. This time there was no mention of a pillar of smoke or a pillar of fire to lead and protect, perhaps because of the leisurely nature of their trip this time. Israel didn’t need protection, for Persia’s armies had vanquished their enemies. This was all part of God’s plan. So when I say, “the wheels in heaven are beginning to turn”, this is what I am speaking of. God is orchestrating his will in heaven and allowing it to manifest itself in the precise way, in the exact place and time that is needed to bring it to fruition. 

            Next time we will have a look at the Suffering Servant, who is of course Jesus. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

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

Looking at Isaiah

“Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!”- Isaiah 51:4-6

            The 4^th thru 6^th verses of chapter 51 establish the personal nature of God. The people of Israel are the children of God by his own choice. The Lord could have chosen any group, but he chose the Jews. Despite their constant wanderings and abject disobedience, God loves them unconditionally and chooses to forgive and be merciful towards them. It is with his own hand that he will restore Jerusalem and lead his children out of Babylon directly to Judah & Jerusalem.

            God refers to Israel as “my people” in the very first sentence. Subsequently, he speaks of “my law”, “my justice”, “my mercy”, “my salvation”, “my strong arm”, “my salvation” a 2^nd time & finally, “my righteous rule”. Looks like he’s covered all the bases. These statements bring hope to those who hear them. The faith of the Jews in their Jehovah God had been rekindled. Even after all the harm that their obstinate behavior had caused them, in the end God still took care of them. What God has done for Israel he can and will do for you if you let him.

            At the end of the 51^st chapter God reveals a reversal of fortunes. In verse 23 the Lord promises to remove the cup of torment from the hands of Israel and place it in the hands of Babylon. The ones who threatened to trample Israel into dust, shall now be the ones to meet that fate, while the Jews are set free. Next time we will look into chapter 52. Until that time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

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

Looking at Isaiah

“But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.” – Isaiah 50:11

            This final verse of Isaiah 50 is a call to those who are unconverted. It is a warning given to all of mankind, for even believers can get sucked into the temptation of trying to make something happen on their own. So many who believe it’s important to live an autonomous life, try “to escape moral, spiritual darkness” by their own efforts; such as, man-made religions or works, even though scripture is clear that one cannot work their way to heaven. One must repent of their past life overtaken by sin. Man’s light only shines so far, leaving them wondering where they are truly going and what lies ahead.

            Ruin comes to those who utilize their own limited resources, rather than the infinite resources provided by the Lord. This is exactly why Proverbs says in several places “there is a way that seems right to a man whose way is death”. For those who do not or will not take the light God provides, their future is very certain. Eternal separation from God is what will be their fate. The “great torment” spoken of is apparently hell, which was prepared for the devil and the fallen angels who were cast out of heaven with him.

            In these difficult times one must stay fixed on Christ and allow your faith and trust to grow instead of fade away. Don’t allow circumstances in your life to cause doubt. The devil wants to discourage you, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will lift you above the fray and plant your feet on solid ground. Do not rely on your own resources, no matter how great you may think they are. Jesus says in the Gospels, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Without me you can do nothing.” Take that to heart and lean on the Lord. The devil is a liar and the father of all lies. God has never and will never let you down. Trust him with unwavering faith and you will win the day. Next time we will move on to chapter 51. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

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

Looking at Isaiah

“Who among you fears the Lord & obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord & rely on your God.” – Isaiah 50:10

            Thru Isaiah, God is once again laying out what it takes to live for God. The Jews obviously needed to hear it because their faith fluctuated continuously. They were being allowed to return to their country, or what was left of it, after years in Babylonian exile. They weren’t taken there because of their good behavior; they were taken there because they were disobedient. It was then that they felt forgotten by God, when in reality THEY are the ones who had forgotten about God. It reminds me of some folks today. They live the way they want, but when things don’t go their way they wonder where God is. God never goes anywhere. Scripture tells us he “neither slumbers, nor does he sleep”.  ^[1] 

            Even the strongest of believers will occasionally end up walking in darkness without any hope or ray of light to guide them. When you are in the darkest place you can imagine, reach for God’s hand. You can trust him, in spite of what this world tells you. What goes with trust is reliance. You can count on the Lord to lead you to the exact place you need to go. Whether in darkness or light, God is the same & we have absolutely nothing to fear.

            I’ve mentioned this last point before, but it bears repeating: fear of the Lord is not being afraid of him. It is rather showing reverence toward him.* You worship his ‘worth ship’. Regardless of what happens to you, you must trust him & believe that everything will turn out all right in the end. It’s not blind faith, because we know both who God is & who we are IN him. We are to praise him in the good times & the bad times. He never changes, only we do. We will take another quick look at chapter 50 next time & then move on to chapter 51. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

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

 ^[1]  “Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” – Psalm 121:4

*“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” – Proverbs 1:7

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Thoughts From a Random Mind

"We're just like other people: We love to sing, we love to dance, we admire beautiful women. We are human, and sometimes very human." 

            It was said by the character of Professor Siletsky in the movie "To Be or Not to Be" (1942).  It’s something we as believers in Jesus Christ could readily say on any given day.  It’s funny how we aren’t allowed to be human. Certain members of the nonbelieving world and even some rigid, judgmental brothers and sisters in Christ are the ones who try to box us in.

            As a Christian we aren’t afforded the luxury of having panic attacks or being depressed. We seemingly aren’t allowed to be sad or concerned, angry or ill. To many those are signs of weakness or a lack of faith. God forbid we reveal our tender white underbelly. Frankly, the only difference between Christians and an unbelieving world is that we stand forgiven of all our sins. Period.

            The simple truth of the matter is that in many circles we’re not allowed to be ourselves as God intended. And these are the people we are to love. It ain’t easy, but God will enable us to look past the rigid judgment and love all we encounter as we strive to see them as our Father in heaven sees them.

rlkeller

Looking at Isaiah

“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.” – Isaiah 50:7

            The first several verses of chapter 50 speak of God’s willingness to fight for Israel. The Lord made it very clear that he wasn’t the one who caused them to be exiled to Babylon.  It was their sin. In verse 4 there is a sudden change. It speaks of the Obedient Servant, who is Jesus Christ. Verse 6 contains words we see referenced in the Gospels, which say: “I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.” This is prophecy regarding our Lord Jesus for this is exactly what happened to him when Roman soldiers at the Jewish Religious Leaders behest took him away.

            The phrase that catches my eye is “determined to do his will”.  Do you have that sort of determination? You must know what God’s will is for your life. There is a general will, such as spreading the gospel and there is a very specific, personal will based on the gifts God has given you. Mine is writing and to a lesser extent speaking. These are gifts he has given me and his will for me is to use those gifts with the help of the Holy Spirit to minister to whosoever will listen. We all have gifts … do you know what yours are? If not, ask God to reveal that to you. 

            These verses tell us Christ knew what was in store for him. He also knew from the foundations of the earth that his life would have to be sacrificed for the salvation of all for all time. Christ was doing the will of the Father. That was God’s specific, personal will for Jesus. It was a lonely road that he was called to travel and a particularly gruesome way to die, but he was determined to do what he was told for the sake of all others. Even when Christ balked momentarily by asking if “the cup could be taken from me”, he immediately followed with “nevertheless, not my will but your will be done.” Even today the name Jesus is the only name that is used in conjunction with a curse word. No one ever took Buddha’s name in vain or Mohammed’s, only Jesus Christ. We will continue looking at chapter 50 next time. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Word for the Day

Looking at Isaiah

“They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters.” – Isaiah 49:10

            This verse is part of God’s promise of Israel’s restoration. The key word for me is   mercy (in red above). People both then and now misunderstand how God works. The fact that mankind still exists is due to the mercy of the one who created all things. If what is said of him is true, and I believe it is, they he could literally will our total annihilation with a thought and we would all cease to exist. However, he knows we are but dust and to dusk we shall return (read Psalm 103:7-18 below)

            As is so often the case, Christ is shown as a Shepherd, with us being his flock. He loves us, feeds us, takes very good care of us by protecting us from our enemy. Because of his mercy and undeserved favor (grace) God does this for us. “Israel’s condition will change from captivity and oppression to contentment and prosperity such as that enjoyed by a well fed, protected, and watered flock of sheep. These ideal conditions will be enjoyed by the faithful remnant returning for their kingdom in Israel. John reveals that this condition is a foretaste of heaven” *(Rev. 7:16, 17).

            In God’s great mercy he doesn’t desire that any would perish. It’s right in Peter’s second letter: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9)           The promise he is speaking of is his Return or the 2^nd Coming. The Jews didn’t deserve God’s mercy, and neither do we today, but he is merciful to us because he chooses to be for his own good pleasure.  Whatever has been promised to Israel is promised to us as well.  Because all non-Jews were grafted into the spiritual vine due to the Jews rejection of Christ as their Messiah, all their promises become ours. 

            None of us have earned one single thing with regards to forgiveness or our entrance into heaven. Whatever the Lord does is done because he wants to do it for us and it is always in our best interests.  Next we will move on to chapter 50. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; www.biblegateway.com/Isaiah

*  MacArthur Study Bible (NKJV) 

Revelation 7:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)  “They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.  And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Psalm 103:7-18 

“He revealed his character to Moses

    and his deeds to the people of Israel.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful,

    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He will not constantly accuse us,

    nor remain angry forever.

He does not punish us for all our sins;

    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far from us

    as the east is from the west.

The Lord is like a father to his children,

    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

For he knows how weak we are;

    he remembers we are only dust.

Our days on earth are like grass;