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;

Word for the Day

Thoughts From a Random Mind

Here’s a valuable life lesson:  If you make a mistake, no matter how big or small, take ownership of it. Don’t pass the buck or make excuses. Own it. Hopefully it won’t be treated like a life or death situation, but even if it is, still own it. By doing that you build up your trustworthiness and integrity among your peers. Sometimes we don’t realize how important personal integrity is to a person until you have none. 

                  Whenever I make a mistake, and I make my fair share for sure, I definitely feel bad. It’s never intentional, but I don’t like to make mistakes. We live in an unforgiving world; so I try to learn from the situation, and then put it behind me. I typically don’t continually make the same mistake. My next mistake is always fresh and new. 

                  So establish integrity, thus building trust. These attributes are worth their weight in gold and speak volumes about your personal character. rlkeller

Looking at Isaiah

“At just the right time, I will respond to you.” – Isaiah 49:8

            The Jews were a stiff-necked group, calling out to God only when they were in dire need. Otherwise, they did as they pleased, only repenting when faced with judgment or after they had been hit with the consequences of their actions. I lifted the first part of verse 8 from the page to speak on it. There are so many things that can be said regarding this chapter, but as I read thru it the Holy Spirit had these words stand out to me.

            What I’m about to say goes for Jew and Gentile alike. We are a worrisome lot, finding it difficult to wait for much of anything. Things had gotten so bad during Isaiah’s run as God’s prophet that Israel actually thought that God had forgotten them while they were in exile in Babylon. The destruction of Jerusalem and Judah and the Jews being ushered off to Babylon were the consequences of their actions. Disobey your parents in any era and consequences present themselves. It’s no different with Almighty God, our Heavenly Father. When things appeared to be at their worst and the Jews thought all was lost, God reveals these incredible words: “At just the right time, I will respond to you.” 

            I wrote a book called “There’s No McDonalds in Heaven”. In it I speak about having patience when it comes to waiting for God’s answers to our many queries and requests. This verse puts a spot light on just how God operates when it comes to answering prayers or moving on your behalf. It never takes place when we think it best. It comes at the time God knows is the absolute perfect time for us to receive the very answer we needed. It was just as true back in Bible times as it is today. We must spend time with God so we know when he speaks to us. Cultivate your relationship with the Lord so you reap all the blessings and benefits God has intended you to have.  Next we will check out chapter 50. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; https://www.practicaprophetica.com/isaiah-important-chapters-to-study/

Thoughts From a Random Mind

IT’S YOUR CHOICE

                  The brevity of life can hit you like a punch in the gut at times. Our lives are like a wisp of air, which dissipates into the winds of time. One never knows on what day or at what time we will take our last breath. Yesterday at work I found out that a 56 year old co-worker died in his sleep over the weekend. Although he was a smoker, he didn’t seem to be in poor health at all. When I lived in Texas a short time ago I knew a co-worker who was up in a tree in his yard cutting down limbs. He lost his balance and fell, landing squarely on the crown of his head. He was pronounced brain dead at the hospital.  While living in NC back in the ‘90’s, I had a co-worker who was doing nothing more than starting his lawn mower. While pulling the starter cord he lost his balance and fell backward hitting the base of his skull squarely on the bumper of his parked car. He died instantly. 

            These examples all prove one basic fact of life; we have no control over the longevity of our lives. We could literally be here today and gone tomorrow. It is a very sobering thought to not know when your life will end. It makes our eternal destination go from being an after thought to a more important, more immediate concern. 

            Where will you spend eternity? Do you believe there is a God? If not, are you sure? If you do, have you allowed that belief to change your life? If you haven’t don’t you think it deserves some consideration? We all have a choice to make. We can go about our lives either believing or disbelieving in God. That is our choice. We can also decide to enter into an intimate, personal relationship with God or we can keep at a distance and not allow him to forgive us of all our misdeeds and make the changes necessary to re-create your life. It’s your choice. You hold the key to your future in your hand. What will you do with it?  rlkeller

Looking at Isaiah

“The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.” “The one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.” “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:1, 5-6

            Almighty God, Creator of all things, has laid out who the future redeemer of the world will be, although not by name. It seems interesting to me that the redeemer himself says the Lord (God) called him before he was born, yet we know the Redeemer is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. So the birth mentioned obviously must be his earthly, Holy Spirit inspired birth to Mary, because Christ is part of the Trinity, which exists the same way Almighty God and the Holy Spirit do. In other words, he wasn’t born any other time in history. So while the Bible says God simply “IS”, it certainly stands to reason that they “ARE” just the same. 

            God had constructed a plan from the beginning of time to restore the Jews in spite of their rebellious ways, plus include the rest of the world in his plan as well. Remember, Gentiles are not just a small group from a particular region. The world at that time, as well as today, has two groups in God’s eyes: The Jews & the Gentiles or non-Jews. This is borne out in the statement “you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” 

            The Lord God does as he pleases for his own reasons; reasons we are not privy to. We don’t need to know in advance what God is doing. It’s not as if we can find out on our own and he’s certainly not sharing that information. Knowing only complicates things for us and raises a plethora of often times unanswerable questions. It’s much better to trust that God has our best interests at heart. Some can’t deal with not knowing what the future holds. Frankly, that type of information is irrelevant, because whether we know or don’t know the future is already set and will play out exactly the way the Lord has prescribed it.  Next time we will continue looking at Chapter 49. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

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