Thoughts from a Random Mind

With 2020 coming to a close and 2021 looming on the horizon, we ought to pause for a moment and take stock of what we believe in. I believe in many things. Most of those things are tied to my strong belief in God. I can’t prove He’s there, but I have chosen to believe that He is and that His grace has carried me to where I now stand. Millions of people believe as I do. Millions do not. That is their right. To those who do not, where does their hope come from? What is it based on? I believe that the Bible is absolutely true. In believing that, God’s Word tells me all I need to know about God. 

It’s a strange concept, this believing in an invisible spirit being. I just know that I have relied on my belief in God for over 40 years and it has pulled me through some very difficult times. If hope reflects our beliefs than my future is bright and if you are in a personal relationship with God, then yours is too. You see, God promises us a future filled with blessing, peace and fulfillment. Without God how can there be any hope at all? What would it be based on, man’s abilities? They are finite, God’s are infinite. It only takes a spark of faith to give birth to hope. My hope for this next year is that my gifts will continue to be used in a powerful way and give birth to a plethora of new opportunities to bless and encourage others. I can hope because if I live for God, following His guide for living – the Bible, I cannot fail. I know I can’t because there is no failure in God. Therein lies my hope for the future. Where does your hope lie and in whom? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Receiving God's Blessings

“This is what the Lord says: He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters … ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. … I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.’” (Isaiah 43:16, 18b-19, 20b-21)

          God is using the prophet Isaiah to remind His people Israel what He has done for them. He is describing His mercy toward them in the face of their unfaithfulness. That which He says is meant to show Israel the saving nature of their God. The path through the mighty waters is in reference to the parting of the Red Sea. With the Pharaoh and his mighty army on their heels, God delivered them over a dry seabed with walls of water on either side of them. It was those same walls of water that came crashing down on the Pharaoh and his army when they attempted to follow the Israelites, drowning them that they may never be a threat to the Israelites again. It was Moses' obedience to God that caused this to take place. In the wilderness, God provided water for them to drink when they were thirsty and manna for them to eat each day. Yet their unfaithfulness continued. 

          Faithfulness and obedience to God is critical to receiving the blessings of God. He does not turn a blind eye to our disobedience. We may do as we like in this life; however, we will reap what we have sown. Look over your life this past year. Have you paid God any mind? Have you sought His will? Do you seek His mind regarding anything at all? Or do you go through your life with God as your Savior only and not your Lord? We are a free people, that is true; however, that freedom came at a colossal cost. I speak of personal freedom, not national freedom. We all have a deep gratitude for all those who fought and died to keep our nation free from the tyranny of outsiders, but what of us being a free nation under God? Let us not be an unfaithful people as the Israelites were. Let us proclaim praise for our God regularly and let us allow His Holy Spirit to direct our paths going into this New Year. 

          My prayer for us all is that God might bless us that we might be a blessing to others and that we would prosper even as our soul prospers. God wants to do a new thing in us. All old things are past. We must forget that which is behind us and move forward into the rich blessings of God. We must learn to be faithful and obedient to our God, not living for ourselves, but rather living for Him and for others. That is where the greatest blessing lies. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Our Awesome God

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” - Psalm 103:1-5

          This Davidic Psalm lifts up the name of the Lord God and mentions a few of the many benefits of knowing Him. The crowning benefit of God’s grace is the forgiveness of sin. “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” (Acts 13:38) Grace is undeserved favor. We are redeemed from the pit of hell by the blood Christ shed on the cross on Golgotha’s hill. Healing of our sicknesses and diseases is also promised to those who have placed their faith and trust in God. As we live for Him, God provides every good, constructive and wholesome thing that we are in need of. Our desires are important, but are secondary to our needs, which God has promised to provide. Charles Spurgeon declares in his commentary The Treasury of David: “Our good Lord bestows really good things, not vain toys and idle pleasures; and these he is always giving, so that from moment to moment he is satisfying our soul with good: shall we not be still praising him?” God knows all too well what our needs for survival are. He is our provider and sustainer. Nothing is unknown to God and there is nothing impossible for Him.

          David had a very long life. He stood on the lofty peaks of honor and in the valley of death below. He is more than qualified to extol the virtues of God and offer praise to Him as a result. To the naked eye of mortal man David would seem like a less than ideal example of a righteous man and yet he is referred to as the apple of God’s eye (Psalm 17:8). God knew the motivation of his heart and therefore knew he was a man after His own heart in spite of his sins. This should give each and every believer hope, for Jehovah is the God of the second chance. You are never too far from Him that He cannot draw you back to Himself. There is nothing you could ever do in your life that would keep God from loving you. This wonderful news should cause you to say in a loud, audible voice, “Praise be to God, Praise His Holy Name.” For He is a loving and kind God; “slow to anger, abounding in love” (Numbers 14:18; Exodus 34:6; Psalm 145:8). Praise be to our mighty and awesome God! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Our Deliverer Has Come

“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’” (Luke 2:28-32) 

          In verse 25 Simeon is described as a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem. He was waiting for the one who would bring comfort to Israel in the midst of her suffering. He went to the temple courtyard, led by the Holy Spirit, where he found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. While Jesus was born to a Jewish mother and the Israelites were the chosen people of God, it is interesting that Simeon would mention the Gentiles. God’s plan was to include all mankind, not just the Israelites. Due to the Jews rejection of Jesus as the Christ, their deliverer, Gentiles were then allowed to be grafted into God’s family tree. Nevermore would the non-Jew be lost. It was evidence of God’s deep, abiding love for the entirety of His creation, not just a certain portion. This is borne out in the statement, made by Paul in Acts 10:34, when he says that God is no respecter of persons. This means simply that He shows no favoritism or partiality towards any one person or group over another. His love, mercy and undeserved favor are available for all who would come to Him. What wonderful news!

          Time is irrelevant to God. So, it should be no surprise to us when we find in scripture the length of time some had to wait to see the Messiah with their own eyes. Simeon was old and yet God had fulfilled His promise to him. Down through the ages men have waited for the Messiah to come. In Jesus He had come. He was fully God and fully man. He would feel pain and sorrow just as any of us would. He came to redeem mankind, but mankind knew Him not. He came not because they sought Him, but because He knew they needed Him. Oh, Israel sought a Messiah and still do to this very day. They missed His appearing because of the form in which He came. They expected a warrior king who would deliverer them by force from Roman oppression. They didn’t see themselves and their own sinful disobedience as the real reason for the coming of the Messiah. The deliverance He would provide would be from themselves and their own penchant to do wrong in the sight of God, not from the oppression they were experiencing from the government.

          Our deliverer is here. Embrace the freedom He provides for those who place their faith and trust in Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

If Christ Had Never Come

A few years ago, a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, “If Christ had not come.” It was founded upon our Savior’s words, “If I had not come.” The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.

A ring at the doorbell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with, the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.

Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that “He had not come,” and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.

Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by:

 

O come, all ye faithful, joyful & triumphant, 

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come & behold Him, born the King of Angels,

O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

 

Let us be glad and rejoice today, because “He has come.” And let us remember the annunciation of the angel, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11). *

 

* This devotional was written in the early 1920’s. It still rings true today. Here’s a bio on the author: Lettie Burd Cowman, also known as L.B. Cowman, was an American writer and author of the devotional books Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley. Cowman published her books under the author name Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. She was also one of the cofounders of The Oriental Missionary Society.

Christ: The Rising Sun

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”- Luke 1:76-79

“… John and Jesus come by God's mercy to    prepare and lead God's people. John will proclaim salvation, but Jesus will take them to it.” *

           John the Baptist was called by God to lead the His people to the Messiah. He was to be a prophet of God. These verses that appear above are from Zechariah’s prophetic song or hymn. Christ is the ‘rising sun’ being spoken of. A rising sun brings the hope of a new day. Darkness represents all that has us under foot: despair, loneliness, sin, depression, worry. John provides hope in the form of the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ shall be the actual embodiment of forgiveness and mercy, which is the grace of God. John was chosen before time began to be born of a woman of advanced age … Elizabeth, wife to Zechariah. Zechariah, whose doubt caused him to be struck dumb, had his speech restored once he wrote on a tablet to the people at his child’s birth that his name is John. They raised John to adulthood when John began his mission, proclaiming to the people of Israel that salvation was coming to them. He baptized them and yet let them know that One was coming whose sandals he was not fit to untie (John 1:27). John gave the people knowledge, what they did with it was up to them. It is no different today. It is like the old adage: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink. I have experienced this firsthand and it is quite literally true. You can actually shove a horse’s muzzle into a tub of cool water on a hot day and if it doesn’t have a mind to drink, it will not drink. The water Jesus was to provide would quench the thirst of any man who partook of it for all eternity, for He was the living water (John 4:10-14). 

          The evidence of God’s tender mercy came in the form of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, the lowly birth of a mighty king. No one could have suspected or in their wildest dreams imagined what controversy that same infant would cause in his life. All to fulfill the salvation plan of Almighty God. Christ is the rising sun that shines on those living in darkness. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Prophecy About John and Jesus (Luke 1:76-80); The IVP New Testament Commentary Series;  www.biblegateway.com.

Gabriel, the Archangel

“The angel said to (Zechariah), ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.’” - Luke 1:19

 

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”- Luke 1:26-27

 

“Angels are messengers of God to His people (Zech. 1: 9, 13-14, 19 Luke 1:11-20, Luke. 1:26-38) and it is this encounter that dominates our Christmas celebration. However, appearances of the angels are usually brief and formal. They are aimed at improving our relationship with the Lord rather than attracting attention to themselves. (Revelation 22: 8-9)” *

 

          These two verses above regarding the coming and birth of John the Baptist and the Christ child are very specific regarding angelic activity. Apparently, Gabriel had come from the throne room of God to deliver two messages; one to Zechariah and one to Mary. His message to Zechariah was regarding the birth of a son to his wife, Elizabeth and the message to Mary is regarding the birth of Jesus. Angels are messengers God uses to speak to those who are in the family of God. To speak to one who does not believe is tantamount to casting pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).

          What do we know about archangels? ** They stand before Almighty God day and night. They are sent out by God to do His bidding. They administer the will of God to those who have sought Him. In this particular case the archangel Gabriel has let Zechariah know that God has favored his wife with a son who would be the one who would bear witness to the Messiah and point the way to Him. Zechariah’s hesitation to believe this message caused Gabriel to strike him mute until his child was born. Could you imagine if God did that to us today in light of our constant hesitation to belief? I think the world would be a lot quieter.

          One of the problems facing the world today is this obsession with angels. Angels do not draw attention to themselves, yet so many people are fascinated by angelic beings as if they were gods themselves. They are not. As a matter of fact, that is exactly why the Apostle John was told in Revelation 22:8-9 not to bow down before an angel God sent to him. The angel emphatically told John to “worship God alone”. Angels are not to be worshipped. They are vehicles of God’s word and blessings. They too were created by God prior to the creation of our world. (Nehemiah 9:6) They protect those in the family of God as well. God controls all things in His creation, even His angels. Let’s put it into perspective using a military analogy: God is like the commander in chief. All others report to Him and follow His instructions. You never need to doubt God’s ability to know what you are going through, for He knows and sends angels to assist us when we cry out. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Angels & the Hierarchy of the Heavenlies; Eddie Russell FMI; http://www.flameministries.org/angels.htm 

** Angel: a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God. Archangel: a high-ranking angel. (www.oxforddictionaries.com)

Thoughts from a Random Mind

       God has a word for you today. That is quite literally true. Whatever you seek on this day, God has a word for you. It may be the answer to a burning question or a word of direction; it may be a word that gives you comfort or peace. Words give hope. Words give guidance. Since we believe that God is all seeing and all knowing, doesn’t it seem plausible that He would have a very definitive word for you today … perhaps right now. How will you hear that word? Will you hear it from the God’s word, the Bible? Will you hear it from a brother or sister in Christ? Will you hear it from your pastor? God loves us and has a perfect will for us; a perfect plan that He is orchestrating from His throne. We need to engage our faith to believe that and see it unfold in our lives. We cannot see it with human eyes, but rather with the eyes of the spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to see that which God is revealing to us. No matter what your situation is today, God has a word for you. Seek that word out. Ask Him to reveal it to you. Pray for wisdom. He wants you to be successful for the kingdom of God. He wants to bless you. He wants to use you to bless others. In this most special season of the year have the Merriest of Christmases. As you celebrate the holiday, remember the babe in a manger who was to be a king; our Lord & Redeemer - Jesus Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Messengers of God

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” - Luke 2:8-16

 

          In addition to the wise men who were guided to the manger where Jesus lay, shepherds were also guided there. According to the customs of the day, shepherds were considered outcasts. They were unable to keep ceremonial law that was required of all Jews as they were out in fields watching over their flocks; animals that were to be used for sacrifice. They were men of lowly stature. It seems apparent that God is revealing that all economic strata are welcome to Him. There is no differentiation between rich and poor with God. All were created by Him and all were worthy of His grace and forgiveness for He has declared it to be so. 

          Messengers of God (angels) were used regularly in the story of the birth of the Messiah to bring the Good News that He had come just as it had been prophesied in days of old. Angels* were sent from the very throne room of God, for scripture tells us in Revelation 7:11 of their position in His throne room. Angels can come in a variety of forms, even in the form of a human being if God finds it necessary to accomplish His purposes. The sight of not just one angel of an entire host of angels declaring the glory of the Lord must have been both a terrifying and beautiful sight. It’s not every night that shepherds see such a sight in the sky during the watching of their flocks. I would have to believe that the magnitude of the event compelled them to go to Bethlehem to see if what the angel had told them was true. It’s not as if a total stranger walked up to you on the street and told you to go to a town to see this incredible infant. This was quite a spectacular event, far greater than any fireworks display we would see in the sky on July 4th. How unbelievable it must have been to actually see first an angel, then a multitude of angels. I cannot even imagine what that must have been like. Someday we'll know. As amazing as this event must have been, it could never overshadow the birth of the Savior** of all of mankind. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Although the word "angel" in the Bible, meaning a messenger, nearly always applies to heavenly beings, it can occasionally apply to human messengers. Malachi himself said a priest was a messenger (malak) of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:7), and in the Book of Revelation the elders of the seven churches of Asia were called angels (1:20; 2:1 etc.). But when we meet messengers doing supernatural things, there is no doubt they are heavenly beings - God's messengers, working for Him and for the ultimate benefit of mankind. [Angels: God's Messengers Bible Teaching About God's "Ministering Spirits"; http://www.christadelphia.org/pamphlet/angels.htm]

** Savior means ‘deliverer’, for Christ delivered us from our sinful state, thus putting us once again in right standing with God, just as Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.

NOTE: the heavenly host. “Host” is a military term, and it is remarkable that an army should announce peace (v. 14). The “peace” is peace with God, a peace that Christ would bring. [Reformation Study Bible]

NOTE: The angel's song (v. 14), according to many manuscripts, was “peace on earth, goodwill to men”; but the NIV translation, “on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests,” follows the earliest and most reliable manuscripts. Jesus did not bring political peace to the world, but he made it possible for men and women to have peace with God. [Asbury Bible Commentary]

No Room for a King

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”- Luke 2:6-7     

          While in Bethlehem the time came for Mary to give birth of her son.  It was the time God had chosen. All had been made ready. The InterVarsity Press Commentary makes a good point when they mention the contrast between the commonness of the surroundings when compared to the greatness of the child. There was no room at the inn … any inn. Consider this: you have been driving all day into the night. You are tired. Your eyes are heavy. It’s late. You decide to pull off the road and get a hotel room for the night. One problem: there are no vacancies. Try as you might you cannot find a room. You stop at one hotel after another only to find that there is no place available. You are weary. You just want to rest. In a way, that may have been in some small measure what Joseph and Mary felt when they were turned away. Compound the situation by having Joseph walk on foot and Mary, great with child and ready to give birth, riding on the back of a donkey. We find no comparison in modern day life … at least not in America. 

          There is wide speculation as to whether the manger was a stable filled with animals or a cave that acted as a stable or even a person’s small home where the animals lived among the family. In the end it is irrelevant. The fact remains that Jesus was born in less than ideal surroundings. Whether stable or cave, it was not befitting His true stature. Yet it made a point, this birth among beasts. He was to be a common man among common men. He was to become closely connected to His surroundings by virtue of His presence among men. For the time being He was under the care of two individuals hand chosen by Almighty God. 

          Babies are born into this world every day. All are God’s creation. All are unique. All are loved by God unconditionally just as we love our children. Yet no birth throughout the course of time would ever mean what the birth of Christ meant to all of mankind. If there was no birth, there was no sacrificial death on a cross as prophesied in Isaiah of the Old Testament. It was one birth at a singular moment in time. He was the Godman. Wholly God, yet wholly man. Under the constant care of two created beings. It is truly remarkable, if you choose to believe it as true, that this event that took place over two thousand years ago would transform the world like no other event that had or ever would take place. God had come in the form of man and we knew Him not. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

NOTE: “‘Swaddling cloths’ were strips of cloth used to wrap a baby. That the Child was put in a manger may mean that the birth was in a stable.” [Reformation Study Bible; P & R Publishing; 2008]

 

NOTE: “In all likelihood, the manger is an animal's feeding trough, which means the family is in a stable or in a cave where animals are housed. Swaddling clothes were cloth wrapped around the baby's arms and legs (see Ezekiel 16:4); they kept the limbs covered and protected. The contrast between the birth's commonness and the child's greatness could not be greater. The promised one of God enters creation among the creation.” [The IVP NT Commentary Series; IVP Academic; 2010]

We Can Do Nothing w/o Christ

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”- John 15:5 New Living Translation

                  Here in the 5^th verse, Jesus reiterates that He is the vine and believers are the branches. There is no guarantee that a believer will bear fruit unless they allow Christ to permeate their life. If we remain IN Christ, then our walk will be able to pass life’s tests. If we try to go it alone, we will fail. Think back on your own life. Your successes and failures. Did you consult the Lord in either case? If you did, did you thank Him for intervening in your life? 

                  The Believer’s Bible Commentary makes this statement regarding the vine and its branches: “It is not a question of the branch living its life for the Vine, but simply of letting the life of the Vine flow out through the branches. Sometimes we pray, ‘Lord, help me to live my life for You.’ It would be better to pray, ‘Lord Jesus, live out Your life through me.’” That is very wise advice. We are said to be Christ’s ambassadors. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have Christ live through you than try to live your life for Christ. We would no longer have to wonder what the Lord’s will was for our life. Our spirit must be in tune with the Holy Spirit and that takes time and determination, plus discernment; which in this case would be knowing what comes from the Lord and what comes out of our own mind.

                  It’s impossible to do anything for the Kingdom of God without Christ’s saving grace. Grace is His undeserved favor toward us. That’s what Jesus means when He says we can do nothing without being united with the vine. There are many things we can do without the Lord, but none of them have any eternal importance. I hope these past few days have been a blessing to you. Digging through well-known portions of scripture to seek out its deeper meaning can be a very profitable exercise.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: Expositor's Bible Commentary; Believer's Bible Commentary; Reformation Study Bible.

Remain & Be Fruitful

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”-John 15:4 New Living Translation

                  It’s interesting to me that many Christians view statements by God in scripture as merely suggestions, rather than commands. ‘Command’ sounds like a ‘Dictator speak’. The difference is that once you’ve tasted the goodness of God and realized the immense implication involved with the forgiveness that has so freely been given to you, you should want to remain with God. The Biblical Theology Study Bible refers to the first sentence above as a “command” that is meant for those already connected to Christ. We and not He are responsible to maintain the vital connection between the Savior and ourselves. Remember, Christ never forces himself upon anyone as implied in Revelation 3:20 where Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He isn’t prone to kicking in your door, but rather it is you who must open the door and invite him in.

                  Once ‘saved’ it is imperative that we maintain our fruitful stature by spending time in prayer, reading & obeying God’s Word, fellowshipping with God’s people and being continually conscious of our connection to Him. We are to maintain our place with God. Some translations use the word ‘abide’, which can mean to “stay where you are”. In other words, maintain a solid personal relationship with the Lord so as not to become non-fruit bearing.

The main reason we must stay attached to the vine is to draw on its life and nourishment. If a person has no source to sustain them, they will never bear fruit. In fact, they will shrivel and die. The relationship we have with the Lord is meant to last forever. It’s not just when we need Him, but whether we need Him or not. Take your relationship with God very seriously. The Lord should always be in the forefront of your mind, not a last resort when all else fails. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: Biblical Theology Study Bible; NIV Study Bible Notes, Fully Revised Edition; Reformation Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Believer's Bible Commentary.

Pruned & Purified

“You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.”- John 15:3 New Living Translation

                  Jesus obviously saw growth in his disciples, because He pruned them, rather than cut them off. Judas was the only disciples that was cut off for obvious reasons. This translation uses the word “purified”, other translations use the word “clean”. This shouldn’t be understood to be “perfect”, but sincere devotion to Christ and His teachings united the disciples to “the vine”.

                  The purifying or cleansing is done by God’s Word. It condemns sin; inspires holiness and promotes spiritual growth. The pruning removed disobedience which comes from evil intent. The disciples were then conditioned to further serve the Lord. When their conversion took place, their cleansing began. It’s no different with us today. Our redemption erodes away all the sin that weighed us down. The Word of God cleansed the disciples, just as it cleanses us. Our responsibility is to NOT roll around in the mud again. Another responsibility is that we allow ourselves to be pruned. It’s called self-assessment and it is very important to maintain solid footing in God’s kingdom. 

Life isn’t a game, nor is it a party; however, it also doesn’t need to be dreary and boring. Being bored is a choice. As the saying goes: ‘Life is what you make it’ and that’s true. So, make your life the best it possibly can be by spending time with the Creator of the Universe. Don’t be a Christian in name only. That will get you nowhere. Cultivate your personal relationship with Almighty God and step up to the next plateau in your salvation walk. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: Zondervan Bible Commentary; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Believer's Bible Commentary.

Fruitless Branches

“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”- John 15:2 New Living Translation

                  There are 2 kinds of pruning that a gardener can do. He can ‘cut back’ or ‘cut off’. If the branch is producing fruit, the branch can be cut back to promote further, more prolific growth going forward. A pruned branch becomes, over time, a much stronger branch. If the branch isn’t producing any fruit, then it will be cut off for that very reason. Another reason to cut the branch off is to prevent it from infecting the entire tree. This is why believers are instructed to avoid those Christians who bear no spiritual fruit. They could conceivably infect your godly attitude by turning you sour towards the church and the things of God, so they must be asked to leave the church and in a personal sense, be avoided.

                  A fruitless believer is one who has a superficial relationship with the Lord. Some may never have believed at all. There is a name for them … apostate Christians. It becomes apparent of a very short time that they never had any genuine belief in Christ or His teachings. That is what stepping on God’s grace means. You know God by name, but don’t allow Him to penetrate thru the stone surrounding your heart. You will ensure a fruitful vine if and when you remove all the dead branches.

                  No branch that is Christ’s shall ever be fruitless. They are the ones that continually assess their relationship with Christ and seek pruning so that they can grow. Spiritually growth, as I’ve said before, is vitally important in one’s maturation process. If you want to grow closer to the Lord, you must feed your spirit man regularly. If you don’t you will starve him. If you want to be a fruitless believer in Christ, cease feeding your spirit man. Next time we will take a look at verse 3. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible Scripture Notes; Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible; Biblical Theology Study Bible; John MacArthur Study Bible; Reformation Study Bible.

The True Vine

1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:1-5 New Living Translation

This week we’re going to take a look at the portion of scripture where Jesus refers to himself as “the True Vine”. It is located in the first 5 verses of chapter 15 in the gospel of John. We will start off, of course, with verse 1: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.”

Very often in the Old Testament Israel is referred to as the vine or the vineyard. God is the gardener. Though Israel has been chosen by God as His own people, they had been consistently unfaithful. This left the door open for gentiles (which is all non-Jews) to be grafted into the vine ^{(Romans 11:17)}. We’ve already discussed the meaning of “I AM”. This is the final of 7 claims Jesus made to deity in these “I AM” statements that we’ve looked at over the last week. It should be pointed out that because Almighty God is the gardener, the branches can have every confidence in His ability to protect and sustain them, along with a sense of security. Obedience is the key. We are to obey our God, not in an ‘or else’ fashion, though there are definitive reasons to trust the Lord, for what He does is always for our benefit and not to harm us in any way.

When Jesus expresses that He is the “true grapevine” He is stating that He is the genuine article. He is real, not an imitation. As the grapevine, Israel had failed to be fruitful and obedient. Essentially, they had slapped God in the face by their disobedient arrogance. Giving lip service to God is very much like a lot of people today who are Christians in name only, but do not live a proper lifestyle emblematic of Christ. Tomorrow we will look at verse 2. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller 

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Orthodox Study Bible; NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible; John MacArthur Study Bible; The Reformation Study Bible.

The Way, Truth & Life

Jesus told (Thomas), “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”- John 14:6 New Living Translation

                  There you have it; a clear-cut statement whose meaning is difficult to deny. Jesus is the only way to reach the Father. Almighty God is a Triune God … 3 in 1. Father, Son & Holy Spirit, all the same, yet all distinctly different. “In brief, the Father is the Planner, the Son is the Accomplisher, and the Holy Spirit is the Applier of salvation to believers. The Father is the Source, the Son is the Means, and the Holy Spirit is the Effector of salvation—it is He who convicts, convinces, and converts.” ^[1]

            Let’s break it down just a little … “as the way, Jesus is our path to the Father”. They are One yet are different in role and function. The Father creates THE WAY, but Jesus provides access to THE WAY through his bloody death on the cross. The Holy Spirit leads a person to THE WAY.

                  Jesus is “THE TRUTH, for He is the reality of all God’s promises.” The Father’s plan of salvation is accomplished by the Son and activated by the Holy Spirit. Since there is no falseness in any person of the Trinity, we can rely on what scripture has clearly said about each of them. It’s not as complicated as it seems.

                  Jesus is “THE LIFE in that He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally.” Jesus is the only living way to fellowship with God, the Father. This writing debunks the Hindu philosophy that all roads up the mountain lead to the same place. I’m afraid not. Not according to Jesus own words. Unless you receive Christ into your heart and life and follow Him for the rest of your earthbound life, you will not spend eternity with Him in heaven. Pretty cut and dry. I had one person, who ended up renouncing his faith, declare in an email to me that God must be a tyrant, to demand that He be followed and obeyed. We all live by some sort of moral and ethical standard, whether it be God or yourself or someone else or a thought or philosophy. The “demands” of Christianity became too much for him. He simply viewed it from an egocentric viewpoint. If you feel you cannot achieve something you take the easy road back and shun the difficult road going forward. Choose whatever path you wish, but you better know what you’re doing because a wrong choice will spell doom for you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] https://www.toughquestionsanswered.org/2017/12/29/what-are-the-roles-of-the-father-son-and-holy-spirit/

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            I could never be God. I am too prone to judging others. I also have a huge tendency to let my emotions dictate my actions. Thankfully, if I could put it that way, my action or reaction involves playing the role of a tortoise. I pull back into my shell for the peace that comes with solitude. 

                  I could never be God. There are too many people I have a distaste for. Too many that annoy me or bore me. I am too into myself. My interests are specialized, leaving me on the outside of most conversations. I have a general feeling that I think I tknow a lot yet know nothing. Comparing oneself to Almighty God will tend to do that to a person. 

                  I could never be God. I can’t even be me. I’m too broken. I’m too fragile. I’m too passive. I realize my flaws yet know not how to fix them. I cannot be God because I need him too much to be him. I look to God to fix me little realizing that he must break me down further before he can build me back up. 

                  I am broken, but no matter how broken I am I can be repaired, for nothing is beyond repair. Therefore, because I cannot be God, I must seek his face to rise above the rubble that lies all about me. In the mending process I see hope. My faith in God is bolstered and my trust in him is elevated. 

                  Thank God I could never be God, because only he is perfect and knows every perfect solution to each problem we face. We must never try to be God or even allow that desire to cross our minds, for we are ill suited for the task. Let God be God and let us reside somewhere between earth and heaven, striving to be like the one true God who loves us in spite of ourselves. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Far too many people live in the moment, doing as they please without any consideration for how their decisions impact others. In the wake of those decisions flounder innocent participants who have gotten unnecessarily sucked into a vortex of pain and destruction. Many times, the perpetrator finds out way too late that his life has ended up being one tragic mistake after another. And when they turn to look behind them, they see the wreckage of all the bridges they have burned that cannot be rebuilt. Christ is the answer, for even when all appears lost and there’s nowhere to go but up, He is there patiently waiting for them to stop being selfish and take a hard look at themselves. 

Are you one of those people? You say you know the Lord but spend little to no time with Him. That is a recipe for disaster, for the enemy of your soul is waiting to strike when you are at your most vulnerable spiritually. That’s when temptation comes lurking around the next corner and you find you are in no position or frame of mind to ward it off. 

God loves you without question, hesitation, reservations or conditions. We all slip up. We’re human, it’s what we do. God knows this about us and yet favors us all the same. Set a new course for a life of selflessness. It can be easier than you think. Seek God’s face daily and specifically ask to become selfless, rather than selfish. We all wrestle with it. Unfortunately, it’s human nature. Cling to the cross and devote your thoughts, words and time to the Lord each day. You’ll be amazed at the transformation that will take place over time. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Resurrection & the Life

 Jesus told her, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”- John 11:25 New Living Translation 

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”- James 2:19 New Living Translation

 

                  A resurrection is the act of restoring a dead person to life. Jesus raised a dead Lazarus, Jesus Himself was raised to new life and the dead in Christ shall rise to new life with their new spiritual bodies when Christ returns & the final judgment takes place.  When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus under cloak of darkness in the gospels, He says it is possible for a man to be born twice and only die once. There He is speaking of physical AND spiritual birth and physical death. Your spirit lives on for all eternity. Therefore, when Jesus says in John “I AM the resurrection and the life”, He is saying in essence that He has conquered death and brought the dead part of us back to life in the spirit.

                  “Anyone who believes in me will live” … This cannot merely be taken at face value, for it is a little more complicated than simply believing. As I pointed out above in James 2:19, “the demons believe (in one God) and tremble in terror.” They know what future awaits them. We will share their fate if we don’t allow our belief to alter our lives in a major way. I believe it is assumed that when you believe you understand the power Christ has to do any and all things. Therefore, we will be compelled to do whatever it takes to please the Lord. Simply believing without allowing any change to occur to our life cheapens God’s grace or divine favor toward us and doesn’t bring about complete redemption. 

                  Physically dying is not the end for a believer in Jesus Christ. Even after death we have eternity to look forward to. The non-believer has nothing positive to look forward to except a lake of fire. At that point all hope is gone for them. There is no turning back and forgiveness has been withdrawn. The creator of life is life and bestows life upon all who have placed their faith and trust in Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

The Gate & The Good Shepherd

“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.” – John 10:7-9a

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” – John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So, I sacrifice my life for the sheep.” – John 10:14-15

            Jesus is saying thru metaphors that He is the way to eternal life. He is not only the gate or door, but also the Shepherd. The Lord calls out our name and bids us come to Him. Those who have an ear to hear shall come, walk thru the door that is Christ and enter into eternal life after they leave this earth. 

            We can know the voice of the good shepherd by listening to what He is saying. That which He is saying rings true. It’s at that time that we realize we’ve found the answer to all of life’s questions. The ember within our soul sparks to life and a flame now exists. We must fan the flame by digging deep into the treasure trove of riches found in His word.

            Just as the shepherd leads His flock thru the gate into green pastures, so Christ leads His followers thru the figurative gate to the truth and reality that awaits all who would believe. The shepherd is willing to defend his flock to the death if needs be. That is the true nature of a savior … our savior. He went to the cross willingly to shed His blood so that we wouldn’t have to. He paid our sin debt, because Christ knew we were unable to. We are broken, sin-riddled people who cannot save ourselves. The shepherd protects his flock so they can graze in peace. We, in turn, are like the sheep in that we are able to graze on the richness of God’s word. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

There’s an enemy of ours that is more debilitating than the most crippling disease or violent criminal and it is your own mind. In our mind we can concoct all sorts of scenarios that will never come to fruition. In our mind we can imagine the worst of things, rather than the best. In our mind we can trick ourselves into believing lies and half-truths. There is a saying: “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” While that may be very true, frankly, he can have a field day even in an occupied mind. It all depends on what you are occupying your mind with. Without sound biblical footing we can be swayed rather easily toward thinking what we would normally never entertain. Without biblical footing we can become tossed about mentally by every errant thought that enters our mind. We are not alone in this, for in Romans Paul speaks of being easily swayed to do that which he ought not do.

Romans 7:14-25 explains Paul’s dilemma: “So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So, I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So, you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Don’t submit to the devil’s tricks. Feed your mind with the food of God’s word regularly to keep strong in the face of trials. Do not succumb to that which is not from God. He loves you and wants to use you. Allow yourself to be used by God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

 

The Light of the World

 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”- John 8:12 New Living Translation

                  Jesus declares that He is the light of the world. There is this funny thing about light, it displaces darkness. Sin is often, but not always, done under a cloak of darkness because the deeds done are evil. John 1:5 states, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” In using the words “I am” Jesus is deifying Himself, stating essentially that He is God. 

                  The words “I AM” were first used in Exodus 3:14 when Jehovah replied to Moses query “who shall I say has sent me”, by saying,  “I AM who I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” I AM can mean “to be”. God has always existed. See if that doesn’t make your head explode. I can’t explain it and I don’t understand it, but remember, we’ve never been asked to understand anything that has to do with God. Our minds simply cannot comprehend the magnitude of a living spirit being who has done all that scripture says He has done. It boggles the mind for sure.

                  Jesus, as part of the Trinity, created all things “and His life brought light to everyone”. Evil cannot touch us when we are walking in the light. The light shines on the narrow path we are to travel down. It’s like driving down a road in the pitch dark with nothing to guide us on our way. The car lights cut thru the darkness and the high beams cast light further down the road. Embrace Christ and live in the light. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; Tyndale Publishing.

The Bread of Life

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”- John 6:32-33 New Living Translation

                  Bread is a food that nourishes our bodies. It sustains us. It is considered necessary to survive. Bread is called the staple of life. In Exodus 16 it speaks of Manna or bread sent down from heaven to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness. That was physical sustenance. Jesus is speaking of spiritual sustenance; something He provides. The Lord tells us He is “the true bread of God”. This, in a manner of speaking, is saying Jesus is all we need in this life. Nothing need be added to Jesus; He is the Alpha & Omega, the beginning & the end. Before there was time, He was. This is why throughout the Gospel of John Jesus is referred to as “I AM”.

                  I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51); I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12); I AM the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7, 9); I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14); I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25); I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6); and I AM the True Vine (John 15:1, 5). We need to wrap our minds around that which we’ve just been fed. Our spiritual development comes from our belief in who Jesus is. Do we believe He is the Messiah, the Son of the One True Living God? Once we’ve embraced that truth our faith and trust will blossom.

                  Over the next several days I will take a brief look at the great “I AM” proclamations of Jesus. They are all located in John and reveal a different facet of Christ’s life. I would dare say most of us eat bread each and every day in one form or another. Bread is a perfect analogy. The notion that we take Christ into our bodies in the form of the Holy Spirit is realized in the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper, where we take the bread as a token of his body and do it in remembrance of our Lord. That is followed by His blood or the wine. Symbolism. Not actual body and blood. Bread, for our physical and spiritual growth. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries