LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 24

God is All Wise

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”-1 Corinthians 1:25

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”- Proverbs 3:7

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”- John 15:5

Wisdom 1. the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

                  We think in our own minds that we are wise.  We devise plans for the future and lie content at night, believing in our hearts that we have done the right thing, but have we consulted God? Have we sought out His wisdom, His guidance, His plan and will for our future?  There is nothing in this world that would indicate, that would even insinuate, that we are wiser than Almighty God.  Now naturally, if someone doesn’t believe in an unseen spiritual entity who rules and reigns over His own Creation, then they are exempt from thinking in such a manner.  It doesn’t make them any less wrong, it just gives them a temporary pass because they cannot see their own folly due to the blindness that has been brought on by their own arrogance.

            There was a show on cable television called “The World’s Strongest Man.”  It’s a collection of the world’s biggest, bulkiest, strongest men performing feats of strength with the end result being a trophy and the title WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN.  Their strength is no match for Almighty God.  The wisest person on earth, whoever he or she may be, is absolutely no match for the limitless wisdom of the Creator of the entire Universe. If it is literally true that we only use 10% of our brain capacity, think of what it would be like to have unbridled wisdom and knowledge; of using a full 100% of our brain capacity and then perhaps you may be able to comprehend the vast wisdom and knowledge that isGod.

            Proverbs states that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”_{(Proverbs 1:7)}. Fear in this case is defined as “reverence”… showing profound awe, respect and even love. Therefore, what the verse truly could say is ‘showing the Lord awe, respect and love is truly the beginning of knowledge’, for we have to revere and respect God before we will pay any attention to what He has to say. We are to love God because He first loved us _{(1 John 4:19)}.  It’s really a pretty simple concept if we allow ourselves to meditate on its truth. We serve a pretty incredible God.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 23

God is!

“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”- Psalm 90:2

                  There are many things that just don’t last anymore. Things are made to wear out so that you need to buy another one. You pay top dollar for items that do last and even then they still don’t last forever. This is all driven by profit margins and overhead. You maximize your net profit by making your costs as lean as possible. This is the opposite of God who was, is and always will be. He was  before time began. He existed prior to creation. I cannot get my mind around such a concept; therefore, it becomes a faith and trust issue. Even though I wasn’t there at the beginning of time I believe what the Word of God says about God being the Creator of the Universe. It is easier to disbelieve such things than to believe it. It is easier to dismiss it as a fairy tale. I have chosen to believe it as true.

                 So many of us want things right in front of us to see, inspect and pass judgment on. In that type of scenario we are the ones in control. It doesn’t work that way. God is … He simply is.  He wasn’t created Himself, God just exists. You either accept it as true or you don’t.  Apparently, there was never a time when God didn’t exist. If you think about that long enough you will go crazy. It’s completely and totally illogical. It makes no sense to our limited understanding; yet that alone doesn’t make it false. There are many things in this life that we cannot prove. We can’t prove many things from history. We have pictures; with more recent history we have video clips, but we weren’t there and even if we were what we saw and experienced would be subject to our own interpretation. 

               So what do we do with this Biblical statement? Just like anything else in the Bible, we must take it by faith that God is who He says He is and has always been in existence. In my opinion, the why and the wherefore of it simply isn’t that important in a faith based belief system. If you could prove without a shadow of a doubt that God did exist, what would it change? Would God become more powerful? Would He be any different than He already is? No, He wouldn’t. So believe it or don’t believe it, but know this, the Bible clearly states that God has always existed and will always exist and that should comfort us. In a world where abandonment is a rampant problem, it should bring us comfort and hope. Be of good cheer, for no matter what difficulties life hands you, God is and will always be there and is more than willing and capable of sustaining you if you choose to rely on Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 22

Giving Good for Evil

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”- 1 Peter 2:12

Pagan 1. a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions; a non-Christian. 

Hedonism  1.the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence; the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life. 

                  

                  Those that have faults delight in pointing out the faults in others. It makes them seem more “normal” in their own minds. Another person’s vulnerability and weakness makes those finger pointers feel morally or ethically superior, in spite of their own flaws. It’s beside the point that those being pointed out have never even pretended to be superior to anyone in any way. The perception that they are superior fuels the fire of those who are struggling with their own humanity.

                  Those who seek pleasure see nothing wrong with it in that, generally speaking, it neither harms, nor affects anyone other than the immediate participants; “live and let live,”but life doesn’t work that way. Every word or deed brings about a subsequent action or reaction, sometimes unpleasant.  Those who seem to have it all together are railed upon and verbally abused for their supposed calmness in the face of the fury of circumstances. It must be infuriating for those who do not know Christ.

                  All scripture tells us to do with such people is to live good lives among them. As Christ was silent when the Roman soldiers beat the crown of thorns down around his head, we are to say nothing, but love them in silence by not giving back to them in like manner to that which they have given to us.  Deep in their soul they know they are wrong. They, just like us, were born with a sense of good and evil, right and wrong. They are on a different path, going in a different direction, yet they are far from unredeemable. Do not shun them for their differences … befriend them. Reach out to them. We are not any different than they are, except that we have decided to follow the path that leads to life rather than death. It’s like this: we have gone to court with a lawyer, they have none. They are unable to defend their actions. Neither are we, but our advocate is.  So you see, aside from Christ, we are not very much different than those who live all around us. 

                  Pray that God will allow you to see those that are lost as He sees them. Don’t preach at them, meet their needs. Don’t avoid them; be as Christ would be to them. Christ didn’t condemn those He ministered to, but rather revealed their sin to them through parables and life lessons. Their own sins condemned them, as the enormity of what was taking place all around them became clear. So give good in exchange for evil and watch the fruit grow from it.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 21

Faith Makes It Possible

“… without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”- Hebrews 11:6

                  According to the writer of Hebrews, we cannot please God without faith. Now scripture says that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed (which is a tiny seed about the size of a pin head), we could move mountains. That means we aren’t speaking of a huge amount of faith when it comes to pleasing Almighty God. Having faith is defined in this verse as accepting the existence of the unseen God as true.  We must also understand that we will be rewarded by God if we seriously seek Him with deep abiding determination.  

                  The whole idea about serving God is wrapped up in whatever level of faith we may have.  As mentioned above, a tiny amount is all that is needed.  It’s the same as the fact that only one drop of blood from Christ is needed to save a sin sick soul.  It’s God’s desire that we worship and serve Him.  How? There are many ways to be of service to the Lord. We can ascertain that information through prayer.  God wants us to know what our gifts and talents are, for they’re given to each of us to use for His glory.  Those that use God’s gifts for personal gain, shirking their responsibility to the gift giver, shall find nothing but heartache in the end. Obedience is the key to contentment in this life and is the result of realizing what gifts He has given you and where He may want to use those gifts. Being compliant is critical to being used.  A submissive spirit breeds healthy results.

                  Knowing that nothing is impossible in the economy of God should encourage us that pleasing Him is truly notimpossible if we will simply yield to His Holy Spirit and submit to His will for us. The enemy of our soul wants us to fail miserably. He lurks around every corner (figuratively speaking), waiting for an opportunity to trip us up in our quest to serve God. Understand this, unless you give the devil a foothold, he can do nothing to you that God doesn’t allow. Why would God allow the devil to have his way with you? There are a variety of reasons why, but know this, any reason would involve your growing in faith and ultimately being blessed in the end.  God is your Heavenly Father; He loves you without conditions.  Accept that truth and be free to please Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 20

Endless Love

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.”- 1Chronicles 16:34

                  The love of God is an infinite thing.  1 Corinthians 13 is the only detailed, concise definition of love that I am aware of throughout scripture.  Wrapped up in that Chapter are all the attributes love is to exude. Without an example, how would we ever know what love is? The Bible tells us that God loved us before we even knew Him.  How is that possible?  It’s just like parents love an unborn baby in the mother’s womb before he or she is ever born. That’s because both parents created the baby through an act of love. God created man through an act of love as well. That is how He could love us before we ever knew Him.

                  God never gets tired; He never gets bored, never gets frazzled, never gets impatient, and never withdraws His love. He is our shining example of how life can be if we would only step out of ourselves and think of someone, anyone else besides ourselves.  Face it, we are a selfish creation.  Our natural proclivity is to think, say and do that which will benefit us the most. We tend to rush ahead of God at times, because the draw to be our own person and succeed can be overwhelming at times.  If you’re honest with yourself, you know in your heart of hearts that it’s true.

                  So what is the solution?  Praise God. Praise Him for who He is. Praise Him for the life you have. Thank Him for His patience with you. Ask Him to guide and direct you in the way you should go. Seek to be more like Christ. Strive to think, say and do everything with Christ in mind. It’s a challenge. Our current society seems to dictate another way, a way that lifts up man as a supreme being who needs help from no one.  Society is wrong; man is frail and fault-filled, sinful by nature. God knows what He’s doing. He loves us with an enduring, steadfast, unconditional love that will never fail and never end.  Rejoice in the fact that even though He knows all your faults and failings, He chooses to love you in spite of yourself, because you are His child.  And nothing will ever change that.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 19

Do You Feel Far Away From God?

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”- Colossians 1:19-20

Reconcile 1. to restore friendly relations (between two parties).

                  Do you feel far away from God?  If God feels far away, who moved? Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Living God, shed His own blood to bring you close to God.  What happened?  We know from scripture that because the Holy Spirit resides in us, by His very nature, God cannot be far away.

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”– Romans 8:11

Our right standing with God was accomplished through what Christ did on Calvary, not by anything we did ourselves.  All we did was respond to the wooing of the Spirit of God.  We didn’t even have to do that, but if you are a true believer you decided to respond. So where is God? He is in you and all around you.  

Omnipresence 1. (of God) present everywhere at the same time. 

I have a difficult time comprehending that, but there have been too many events that have happened in my life that defy logic to believe in coincidences.  I believe that God has His hand upon each and every believer to lead and guide us where He wishes us to go.  There is a catch to that way of thinking; you need to be listening and you need to be seeking His way and not your own.  

                  Free will can be a wonderful thing.  You don’t have to do anything you truly don’t wish to, unless there is a law that says you do, naturally.  When it comes to making your own decisions regarding where you go and what you do, you can be in charge if you so choose.  But honestly, how has that been working for you?  It is important that we understand that there is very little we can accomplish all by ourselves.  Our own knowledge and limited resources simply won’t carry us all that far, but seeking the Creator of the Universe for advice and guidance unlocks His infinite resources to us. Nothing is impossible for Almighty God; not one single thing.  One word from Him can change everything.  We are talking about a spiritual entity who created something out of nothing by speaking a word.  You are reconciled to Him by His Son and you have been given access to everything that is in His creation to accomplish that which He wishes you to do.  It doesn’t get any better than that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 17

Respect God

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.”- 1 Peter 3:15a

                  How do you feel about Christ? Who is He to you? Do you know who He is? Do you fully comprehend what He has done for mankind? Have you spent any time thinking about it? People in general find themselves in awe of those individuals that they can see, in addition to the seemingly amazing things they do. We seem to have the deepest respect for them based on their accomplishments, either visible or tangible, that we can actually see with our own eyes. We tend to hold fast to the mantra that “seeing is believing,” and understandably so. There is another phrase that is just as widespread and is applicable here … “your eyes can deceive you” and“you can’t always believe what you see/hear.” So it doesn’t surprise me that so many people have a problem accepting and believing in a Supreme Being they cannot see, hear or touch.  Basketball great Michael Jordan is real, Jesus they’re not so sure about.

            Now Peter was an interesting character in the Bible. He was more than likely loud and forceful. He was no doubt what we would call today a “Type A” personality. He spoke up freely to Jesus and even denied Him to save his own skin just prior to Christ’s crucifixion. So it is interesting, to say the least, that Peter is the one saying to all Christendom “… in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.”  In other words, Peter is saying “be in awe of Christ; have the deepest respect and devote your entire life to Him.” Peter saw it all. He knew all Jesus had done. He ate with Him, touched Him, spoke with Him, listened to Him teach, saw Him perform miracles. He was with Him pretty much all the time. So I think it is fair to say He knew Christ in the most intimate sense of the word. Therefore, in spite of his shortcomings, he should be considered a reliable source, should he not?
           I am sorry to tell you this, but no matter how you slice it, believing will require faith. Believing in any  school of thought or ideology requires faith. How do we know other than the account in Scripture that the Bible isn’t just a fairy tale … a book written centuries ago that has interesting, insightful stories in it and nothing more. We believe because of what the Bible says of itself. We believe because God’s Holy Spirit has quickened our spirit and we know deep down in the farthest recesses of our heart that God is real and His Word is true. We choose to exercise our faith in this manner, rather than some other way or in something else. If faith wasn’t required then it would be illogical to believe in Christianity, because it simply doesn’t make sense to the logical mind. In a faith and trust based system of belief it is easy to believe that God is real, that His Word is literally true and that Christ died for our sins. Now if only we would live like we believed it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 16

Lent is or at least should be a time of reflection and self-examination. We are called to be more like Christ. If you observe Lent then make it a point to be more Christ-like in all you think, say and do. The devotionals over the 40-day Lenten period are meant to steer you in that direction. May his name be glorified thru our lives.

God’s Grace Brings Blessings

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”- Titus 2:11-14

            God’s undeserved, unearned favor is available to all people. It comes with our redemption.  His favor is better known as his grace.  It allows us to live our lives with inner peace. It enables us to turn our backs on sin and live a life of self-control. While it’s true we must desire to live a self-controlled, godly life, it doesn’t have to be as hard to acquire these traits as it would seem.  The Holy Spirit within us enables us to achieve these characteristics. Once we have them we need to cultivate them as we would a garden. 

            You can look no further than 1 Kings 3:1-15 to find a prime example of seeking and being granted godly attributes. Solomon sought wisdom and discernment to rule the nation of Israel fairly and effectively. Because he asked for this and not for personal riches and good health, nor the death of his enemies, God granted him what he asked for and the riches and prosperity he was not seeking. 

            God, through Christ, gave Himself as a sacrifice to bring us back from spiritual death. His plan was to cleanse us from evil and make us holy for His own use. The whole idea is that we, who have given our lives to God, are to be eager and willing to do that which is good and not feel like it is a requirement, for it most certainly is not. Our free will allows us to do as we please but scripture clearly teaches us that all things are permissible but not all things are for our benefit _{(1 Corinthians 10:23)}.

            Use your gifts for God’s glory and not for ill-gotten gain.  Nothing escapes the ever watchful eye of your Heavenly Father. He knows not only your words and deeds, but also He knows your hearts motivations. Those who seek blessings for themselves and themselves alone will be most miserable. However, those who seek blessings so that they may dispense them to who are in need shall be blessed and used of God. Seek your Godly gifts and work at cultivating them. Seek to be used to minister to and bless others. It is an important part of who we should be as believers. Living for our self or our own families alone can be a lonely, lifeless, stagnant existence. Reach out of your comfort zone. You may find that in blessing others, youare the one that gets the greatest blessing.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 15

Lent is or at least should be a time of reflection and self-examination. We are called to be more like Christ. If you observe Lent then make it a point to be more Christ-like in all you think, say and do. The devotionals over the 40-day Lenten period are meant to steer you in that direction. May his name be glorified thru our lives.

HE HEARS OUR CRY

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”- Psalm 116:1-2

            Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), noted evangelist/preacher, suggests that this non-Davidic Psalm shows evidence of being a song sung during the Israelites flight from Egypt. David Dickson (1583-1663), Scottish theologian states that the writer is expressing thanksgiving “for his mercy unto him, and in particular for some notable delivery of him from death, both bodily and spiritual.” The great thing about God is that all this is relevant for us today. This is because God is not only no respecter of persons, but also that time is completely irrelevant to Him. So when we find ourselves in a place where we need Him to hear our voice as we cry out to Him, God does hear and will act on our behalf. As always, it is done His way and in His time. We can confidently call out to God anytime of the day or night in any situation we happen to find ourselves in and He will hear us. He is not like we are, half listening and not hearing, but rather is attentive to our cry and ready to take care of any need we may have. 

                  I would like to point out that the writer’s phrase “because he turned his ear to me” shouldn’t be seen as a conditional response. This is all figurative language for we know that God, being a spiritual entity, doesn’t have a literal ear to incline towards us. I believe this verse should be looked at from a slightly different perspective: Using history as his proof, the writer will always call on God because he always gets results. Would you continue to contact someone if you could never get ahold of him or her? I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t. At some point I would stop trying, figuring that person on the other end doesn’t want to be bothered or is busy. Neither would ever be the case with our God. We are never, ever bothering Him, neither is He ever too busy to hear us and act or react on our behalf. God’s consistency is one of His greatest attributes. He is always the same. He has never and will never change. We are the only ones who can circumvent His will for us by willfully marching off in a different direction than He intended us to go (we’ll use Jonah as our example); free will allows for that. When we finally wake up and realize we have made a mistake, He is right there to pick up the pieces and help us move on. God is the only one who truly cares and is able to do something about the situation we may be in.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 14

Lent is or at least should be a time of reflection and self-examination. We are called to be more like Christ. If you observe Lent then make it a point to be more Christ-like in all you think, say and do. The devotionals over the 40-day Lenten period are meant to steer you in that direction. May his name be glorified thru our lives.

God Has a Plan For You

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, …”.-  2 Timothy 1:9 

                  I would like to focus on the two short phrases within this one verse:  “He has saved us … not because of anything we have done.”  First of all, how did He save us?  Well, He sent His One and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be scourged and nailed to a cross. By the sacrificial system that He put into place in the Old Testament, a person’s sins or transgressions must be paid for. The bank account of mankind was empty.  We had and still have no way to pay for our past sins. Christ willingly allowed His own blood to be spilled, as required by God, to pay mankind’s sin debt. What did He save us from? His wrath.  Sin requires judgment.  Improper actions bring with them consequences. The wrath of God is a fearsome, ferocious thing.  Restitution must be and has been made once for all for all time in the form of Christ’s blood sacrifice.  

                  God has a purpose and plan for each individual’s life.  We exercise our faith by believing in a God that cannot be seen and we put our trust in action by relying on His word.  When Scripture says that God has a purpose and plan for us all, we are trusting that is true. We are asked not to doubt it. As a rider on a crowded bus hangs on to the straps that keep us from losing our balance, we are asked to hang on to our faith and go along for an exciting ride through life.  Through the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows, the exhilarations and bitter disappointments we are to hang on. In all those things God is present. He is in the past, the present and even the future. Yes, not constrained by space or time He’s already there. He knows all things and has the power to make whatever needs to happen take place. He is no respecter of persons; in other words, He never plays favorites … what He has done for one He will do for all for His own purposes and pleasure.  

                  This should be joyous news. Is it? I think so. What about you? Are you mired in self-pity, do you have a woe-is-me thing going on?  Perhaps you’ve lost your focus. How do I know this; because I have felt sorry for myself on any number of occasions; getting down in the mouth … feeling despondent; feeling like there was no hope. It didn’t last forever and now I stand on the other side of my greatest trials. I am here to tell you that God cares. He knows exactly what you are going through; exactly how you feel at this very moment. Re-focus! As the church chorus goes: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 13

Lent is or at least should be a time of reflection and self-examination. Instead of giving up ice cream, candy, a favorite food item or beverage, it should involve giving up that which is displeasing to the Lord, such as gossiping, being negative or being judgmental. We are called to be more like Christ. If you observe Lent then make it a point to be more Christ-like in all you think, say and do. The devotionals over the 40-day Lenten period are meant to steer you in that direction. May his name be glorified thru our lives.

__________________________________

Being Christ-like

“Accept one another … just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”- Romans 15:7

                  I have a hard time loving the unlovely: those who look differently or those who act differently than me.  I have a hard time with people I perceive to be elitist, looking down their nose at me. All my issues have grown out of preconceived notions based on my upbringing, my schooling, my friends growing up. I have allowed this to take place, perhaps because I didn’t know any better, but now I do. God’s word has taught me differently. So what do I do now?

                  A scripture like Romans 15:7 lays it out there for us all. We are to approve of one another. We are to receive them as readily as Christ has accepted us. Do we deserve God’s acceptance and approval? Honestly, on my best day the answer would still be a resounding “NO!” So who am I to essentially pass judgment on anyone else, when Christ hasn’t passed judgment on me? I AM ONE OF THE REASONS HE HAD TO BE CRUCIFIED!Yet I am accepted unconditionally and loved unconditionally and forgiven unconditionally. It is a very humbling thing to come to that realization … but when you come to that realization and it doesn’t cause a change in your behavior then something is wrong. It’s a matter of changing -ishto -less. Check it out. I can be self-ish… selfish with my time, my money, my affection or self-less, which is what Christ calls me to be.  This essentially means the needs of others come first.  

                  Here is one time when lessis more… more like Christ, that is. This is hard for me. I strive for it; I desire it ... but obviously not enough. Just the fact that I care enough to be concerned about my lack of selflessness gives me hope that someday I will change my thought process and actions. We must all pray for one another that we can be more like Christ, for without Christ we have no hope.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 12

Trust in the Lord

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”- Psalm 32:8 - NKJV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”- Proverbs 3:5-6 - NKJV

                  Have you ever been lost when travelling?  Road maps come in handy.  A navigation system helps as long as where you are going is logged in its database. Even asking directions, as old fashioned as that may seem nowadays, is a way to find where you need to go.  So there are ways to get where you are going, if you utilize all the resources at your disposal. What about spiritually speaking? Have you ever felt lost?  Well, if that is the case there are resources you can use as well.  The above scripture shines a light on your main resource; God Himself.  He desires to be your navigation system.  He doesn’t require batteries or a receptacle to plug into; He requires faith and trust. Just like a map, online map software or navigation system, you have to utilize it.  You activate God by simply asking Him for assistance.  God wishes to help you, but you must recognize your need for help and ask for it. God is not intrusive.  He never forces His will on anyone, however if and when you ask for His assistance, He is ready, willing and more than able to take care of you.  It may be immediate assistance or it may come over time, but God never fails to help His children … never.  

            Patience is required many times. God has promised in His word that He will guide and direct you; and that’s when your faith has to kick into overdrive. If God says it, then you can believe it. If you don’t, then why bother having faith at all. Faith goes hand in hand with trust. You are relying on God to provide and sustain you. Now that doesn’t mean you sit passively on the side of the road and wait for Him to move you. It’s much easier to move a large ship in the direction it must go if it is already moving, rather than sitting still. Faith is a living, flowing thing that requires you to move.  If you ask God for wisdom, discernment, guidance or direction regarding a decision you have to make, have the unwavering trust to believe and not doubt that He will do as He has said. He’s like no one else in that He has never gone back on His word. Trust Him with everything starting today. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!  rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 10

I am With You

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”-Deuteronomy 31:6

            In Deuteronomy, we see Moses commissioning Joshua to lead the people of Israel into Canaan. Moses was not allowed by God to enter in because of an act of disobedience in the wilderness _{(Exodus 20:8-12)}. The Israelites had been through a lot, mostly due to their being stiff necked and obstinate and are finally ready to enter into the land God had promised them. God was with them. Think about how apprehensive the Israelites must have been crossing the River Jordan into a land that was foreign to them. All the unknowns must have been driving them crazy. God was with them. It was a matter of faith and trust in their God. He’s also with usand in usas well. He goes where you go and “will not leave you nor forsake you.” 

Forsake  1. abandon (someone or something); renounce or give up (something valued or pleasant).

            God is saying in Deuteronomy and says throughout scripture that He will never abandon us. We’re never alone for God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us. The Bible speaks of our enemy as an “adversary (who) … walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”_{(1 Peter 5:8; NKJV)} What it doesn’t say is that he is a toothless lion, for he can do nothing that God does not allow for His own purposes. (Read the opening chapter of the Book of Job in the OT.)

            We know there is nothing to fear and today’s verse of scripture has emphasized that by showing us that we have every reason in the world to be strong and of good courage. And why is this? God goes with you and isn’t dropping you off to fend for yourself.  Embrace this truth and then proceed to live it. Knowing the word of God isn’t good enough. Your enemy knows God’s Word but only to use it against us. To put in super hero vernacular, not trusting God to see you through each of life’s situations is like having super powers and not using them. Of course, it is impossible to equate God and all that He is to mere “superhero powers,” but I believe you understand the comparison. Take courage this day … nothing can harm you and you have nothing to fear. God says so and He ought to know. He rules and reigns over all things … even your enemy.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 9

The Comparison

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

                  Those in society who deem themselves good, find themselves setting a standard to live by that is solely devised bythemselves. They feel they have a firm grasp regarding what is good and what is evil and act according to their own standards. They never consider God, but rather feel no need to due to the supposed logical nature of their thinking. How could they possibly be wrong in their assessment? It makes sense to them and is something they can live by without breaking a sweat. It is mind boggling how people can conjure up all sorts of ways to do “good” works, as they attempt to earn their way to heaven. They feel no need to trouble themselves with the untidy details of the crucifixion or the resurrection.  That is for the weak minded. However, measuring ourselves by ourselves is very dangerous. It is like sailing close to a rocky shoreline without the aid of a lighthouse. We cannot see the reality of that danger without first surrendering our will.  Only then do the blinders come off.

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

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

                  “… there is no one who does good, not even one.”- Romans 3:12b

                  

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

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 8

Forgiveness

 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”-Matthew 6:15

            Think of what it would be like if God decided not to forgive you of your sins. There would be no hope of salvation from those sins would there?  You would carry them until your eventual death and then pay the consequences for them.  So why is it that we so often decide we would like to play god and hold a grudge against someone, not forgiving them of their transgression(s) against us?  We must look at the bigger picture. 

            I know someone who claims to be a Christian, yet has never forgiven their Dad, who is not a believer, for being a “bad” father.  This person hasn’t spoken to him in over 25 years.  I lived in the same household, yet have never thought of him as a bad father.  I saw something this other person apparently didn’t see and that is that he is an unregenerate soul.  He has not experienced the renewing power of God’s salvation.  In other words, he really doesn’t know any better … he has done the best he could with what he had at his disposal; namely, his own resources, minus God.  

            Do you have a person in your life now that you feel you cannot forgive?  Do you understand that each situation and circumstance in life arises to make you stronger … to challenge you to take on more of who Christ is?  While as a general rule I don’t like the commercialization of Christianity, I do see wisdom in the mantra “What would Jesus do?”(or “WWJD”) What would Jesus do when it comes to forgiving?  He already answered that question when He willingly spread out His arms and allowed Himself to be nailed to a wooden cross for your sins and mine. What would Jesus do if He were in your shoes? He would forgive, for not to forgive breeds bitterness and bitterness, if left unchecked, leads to spiritual death. 

            Jesus also answered the question regarding how many times we are to forgive; seventy times seven (Matt. 18:21-22), which is symbolic for an infinite number of times.  We allow ourselves to become mired in the whys and the wherefores of given situations, when we should unhesitatingly forgive.  We must remember certain things so as not to become a door mat, however, we don’t need to remember as a vehicle of vengeance. God will settle any scores that need to be settled on the last day (Rom. 12:19).

            Our ambition and goal as believers is to focus on Christ and His example of how to live. Focusing on Christ makes it impossible to focus on a transgression done to us. Nothing good comes from an unforgiving heart.  Let it go.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 7

Faith & Trust

“A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”– Proverbs 16:9

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. “- Proverbs 3:5-7

                  We might consider ourselves on perpetual training wheels when it comes to knowing the will of God and His direction for us.  While I don’t believe God’s will is meant to be difficult to read, we make it difficult by trying to decipher the fine nuances of it.  It’s like the Gospel itself.  It is referred to as the “Good News,” yet we complicate it with our own baggage and predispositions that it becomes “Fair to Partly Cloudy News.”  Life is not meant to be a constant trial.  It’s meant to be lived to the fullest; however, we have yet to see a person who has become so entrenched in the Word of God and abounding in faith that life becomes a joyful existence all the time.  We are our own worst enemy.  In spite of warnings to the contrary, we worry, fret and over-examine every challenge life brings our way, finally giving in to a variety of emotions that lead to doubt and indecision.  Rather than being an over-comer, we have become overcome.  We are told not to lean on our own understanding and yet we can’t help ourselves.  So often we have all the best intentions, yet find ourselves racing ahead of God and this is never a good thing.  It’s like we want to show our Father what we can do, when in reality we can do nothing without the proper guidance and spiritual influence _{(John 15:5)}. 

                  At the root of our problem is the most basic of Biblical concepts: faith.  Faith, in its simplest terms, is seeing the unseen, believing in something that has yet to take place and believing in a God whom you have never seen or heard directly. Going hand in hand with faith is trust. When we first gave our lives to Christ we were excited.  We were joyful.  We were grateful. The emotions that we experienced were positive and good.  What happened?  We allowed the enemy to clutter our minds with nonessential things of no eternal value.  Take the above verses to heart.  Tune in to the Lord, as you would use a fine tuning dial to find your favorite radio station.  Dial in to what He has to say to you daily.  Seek His direction.  Trust Him with every fiber of your being and don’t always try to figure things out, because frankly, sometimes things are unknowable.  Many things in life require faith.  Are you willing to rely on God’s Holy Spirit to guide and direct you this day? It may well be the only way you will arrive at your heavenly destination.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 6

No Excess Baggage Allowed

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”– Philippians 3:13-14

            Baggage; the things we carry: things from the past that can be heavy and weigh us down, unnecessary things like past mistakes, or errors in judgment; they may be our fault, maybe not. They hang over our heads and cause regret. We need to leave them in the past.  That’s easier said than done. So many things in our present remind us of things from the past. They are obstacles to the progression of life. They are hindrances to our spiritual growth. When we take our focus off that which it is to be on, then our focus becomes blurry. Our sight is unclear. We must lift up all the hindrances to the Lord. We are to “forget those things which are behind.”

            I love history; I especially love the history of America. I love watching documentaries on the wars and the major events that shaped our great nation. Remembering one’s personal history can be fun, interesting, informative and rewarding all at the same time. That is not the type of history we need to drop and walk away from though. When we hang on to things that encumber us from the past it makes our walk with Christ much more difficult. We need to realize and understand that Christ isn’t the one that makes our lives difficult; we are. It’s difficult especially when we keep looking back at things that are historical. We know we cannot change those things, yet they cling to the deep recesses of our mind. We are to “reach forward to those things which are ahead.”  God’s plan for you doesn’t involve the baggage you carry from the past. It’s time to lay it down at the side of the road, as you would a heavy laden pack you would carry on a hike. Those things are inconsequential when compared to the riches awaiting you in Heaven. 

            Why do we make this trip more difficult than necessary? I still deal with the past on a regular basis, so I know all about this. It probably has to do with the cuts and bruises we picked up from our past associations. A knife wound may leave a scar, but it will eventually heal. Words spoken in hatred, intolerance and anger leave lasting scars that never quite heal. There always seems to be something that comes along to pick at the scab and reopen the wound, reminding us of the pain all over again. God’s prize is not unattainable. Without the weight of things past we could extend our reach that much further. Shake loose of those encumbrances from the past and be free to embrace that which you were called. God’s riches are waiting for you. No excess baggage allowed. Always remember, because of God’s grace you are no longer defined by your past mistakes. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 5

House Building 101

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builder’s labor in vain.”- Psalm 127:1

“There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.”- Proverbs 14:12 _(AMP)

Did you know that you could actually hinder the plans of God in your life? It’s true.  You pray, seek God’s face, ask for His will, yet in your heart you want a certain thing to take place.  You see an opening for that certain thing to become a reality and jump at it, telling yourself that it’s the will of God.  The reality of it is that you have pushed your own will in front of God’s.  If this is suggested to you, you deny this to be the case.  What has actually taken place is that God has allowed you to have your way. He is there watching, yet not interfering with what you have talked yourself into believing was the only right choice for you to make.

I believe this scenario is quite common in believers’ lives.  I suppose it isn’t disobedience as much as it is being obstinateand spiritually immature.  We haven’t come to the place of giving things up.  Our way, if unbridled, can lead us into real messes.  In all these situations that God has allowed to take place in our lives, there are lessons to be learned.  We must learn those lessons well or we will be destined to relive them over again, until we understand what God is trying to reveal to us about ourselves in relation to Himself. He is a willing teacher; however, we are not always listening.  

It is God’s desire to be a part of every decision and plan you are making.  Where you work, where you go to college, where you go to church, who you date and marry… pretty much every life altering decision we need to make.  God’s way is the right way every time.  There is no fault or failing in Him.  His wisdom is reliable and His plans are steadfast and true. Wherever the Lord leads you is where you need to be.  The only way you can know this is to truly know God.  You can only know God by spending time with Him.  If you spend time with Him, no matter how great or small, you will be less likely to labor in vain building something that “seems right to you,”yet only ends up standing in His way.  Submit to Him with a willing heart and spirit and watch the scenery change. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 3

What Are We Worth?

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” - Luke 12:6-7

            What do you think you’re worth?  What is your worth to your family, your friends, your employer, your fellow church members … can you put a value on it?  It’s tied into how you feel about yourself as a person, isn’t it?  Do you like yourself? You should. You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “you’re special, cuz God don’t make junk?” Well, it’s true. Did you know that you are priceless to God?

            Priceless 1a: having a value beyond any price: invaluable.

            … even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(Matt. 10:30)

            If He takes care of everything in His creation and nothing escapes His ever-watching eye, then why would you think he doesn’t know you and care for you?  I don’t know of anyone else who can say that they would even have the remotest interest in the number of hairs on my head, yet God says He has them all numbered. We may be as a single grain of sand on the beaches of life, but I am confident that God knows where I am at all times and always has my best interests at heart.  Since God is no respecter of persons, what He does for me, He will do for you. Do you realize that there is nothing about you that could make God turn away from you? He created you and loves you without any conditions being placed upon the relationship.  Couples may sign prenuptial agreements prior to marriage just in case things don’t turn out well for them; however, no such agreements are needed with God.  You may turn from Him, but He will never turn from you.  

            Almighty God is our healer, sustainer, provider and advocate.  I believe He is disappointed with some of our thoughts, words and deeds, but it never catches Him by surprise and never causes Him to not love us.  He is a thoughtful and kind Heavenly Father, who chastises us to teach us when necessary, yet does it with mercy and compassion. His Holy Spirit may operate through another or be that still, small voice that ministers wisdom, guidance or peace to the spirit within you.

            So no matter what you have done in your life, know this, the world may turn its collective back on you, but the Creator of the Universe will never, ever leave you lying in a ditch.  His love surpasses anything our finite minds can comprehend. There aren’t enough words in existence to describe Him.  He loves you no matter what.  Get used to it, because that truth will never change. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller