Silent Obedience

 

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”- Matthew 6:1-4 

 

God knows all things. It’s called being omniscient. The Bible tells us that He knows the hearts of men (Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Kings 8:39). If God truly knows all things, then it would be impossible to keep anything from Him. There isn’t any hidden sin or good deed that He does not know about. In these verses in Matthew, Jesus is speaking specifically of good deeds. 

Our main goal as Christians is to be as anonymous as possible when doing any good deed. It would literally be impossible to keep your left hand from knowing what your right hand was doing, but this is the illustration Christ gives to help us understand that no one need know that which we do for others. If we announce it to others the praise we receive for that good deed is our payment. 

          The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were an arrogant lot. They paraded around in full regalia, with emblems and full ornamentation. They were the keepers of the Law of Moses. They were the ones the Jews should listen to and follow. They announced their good deeds to the poor with blaring trumpets and the pomp and circumstance of people had come to expect from such an event. They denounced Christ and His teaching as heresy. Jesus was telling people to keep these things to yourself. Help others as a result of your faith, revealing your love for God by your actions. Say nothing to anyone. According to the Jewish leaders Jesus was spoiling everything. He was contradicting what they felt was necessary and didn’t desire any competition in the matter. Jesus was very specific in His instructions: do not announce your deeds as those in the synagogues do. He called them hypocrites. By definition they are putting up false appearances; their actions were in contradiction to what they said they believe. They were making a show of it. 

          God rewards those righteous believers who live their lives not for themselves, but for others. No fanfare, no pronouncements; just quietly going about the Lord’s business. We must allow Him to use us in such a way that He is glorified and not ourselves. “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 … and do it without anyone knowing it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Obadiah's Warning

“The Lord say to Edom, ‘I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised.” – Obadiah 1:2

 

                  Edom was a nation with many mountains; they became for them a mighty, impenetrable fortress. They were blood relatives of Israel, being descendants of Esau. Their terrain caused them to become rugged and fierce warriors. One would have thought that being related, the Edomites would have been the first to defend Israel, but instead, they gloated over Israel’s many problems and harassed them regularly, even participating in attacks against Judah itself.

                  Not much is known of Obadiah. His name means ‘servant or worshiper of the Lord’. The Lord chose to speak a doomsday prophecy to the people of Edom thru Obadiah. Chapter 1:10 succinctly lays out what is in store for the Edomites. “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever.” Verse 16: “Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history.” ^(NIV)

                  This warning is applicable to any and all who have come against believers. God will destroy all those who would ridicule and/or harass His children for any reason. They will be blotted from history as if they never existed. If scripture is any indication, then the earth will be scrapped clean; where they once were, they shall be no more. This applies not only to ungodly nations, but ungodly individuals who would wreak havoc on the brethren of the Lord. Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord.”^(NASB) Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

God, Our Creator

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”- Colossians 1:16-17

          If you believe the Bible is the infallible, unalterable, perfect word of God for instruction, encouragement and edification, then these two verses in Paul’s letter to the Colossians is evidence that God created all things. If you don’t believe that about the Bible, then I guess you will just consider it good reading material; the stuff of myths and legends. Faith requires trust and belief in what you cannot experience with any of your senses. To the average, non-inquisitive mind, it’s much easier to simply say God doesn’t exist. To the individual who feels there must be more than just being born, living and dying, there must be a higher power at work. To them these words in Colossians mean something. Once the Holy Spirit woes one of God’s created beings, a hunger begins. We are being slowly drawn to God. At that point our faith can either become stagnant or take us to the throne room of God.

          To those that believe, it should be understood and generally accepted that Jesus is God in human form and the Holy Spirit is also God. Jesus walked the earth nearly two thousand years ago and once He ascended back to His rightful place at the right side of the Father the Holy Spirit was sent to inhabit all those who truly believe. The Holy Spirit is God in us. This doesn’t make us gods; it makes us children of God inhabited by His spirit. How can we not allow His spirit to guide and direct us? Why must we insist on straining at the leash, seeking to do our own thing? God knows us better than we could ever hope to know ourselves. Even so, He loves us and attempts to speak to us through His word. Many times, it’s like He’s knocking, but isn’t being allowed to enter in. We readily accept His forgiveness, yet mistakenly think it ends there. It doesn’t. God wants to use each one of us for His glory. 

          We strain at the leash because we don’t understand the complexity of God’s plan and the way things work in the spiritual realm. We were never asked to understand, only to believe and trust. God desires only the absolute best for His children; however, we must surrender with our heart. We need to acknowledge to ourselves that we are truly lost without Him. We can’t save ourselves and we cannot get to heaven on our own. Allow the Spirit of God to lead you where you need to go. God created all things; He can certainly take good care of us if we let Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The 5 Senses Project

Touch

Sight

Hearing

Smell

Taste

 

“Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.” ⁽¹⁾ 

 

One’s sense of taste is usually broken down into the perception of four different tastes: salty, sweet, sour and bitter. There is also a fifth taste, defined as savory. Taste is sensed in the taste buds. Adults have 2,000 to 4,000 taste buds. Most of them are on the tongue, but they also line the back of the throat, the epiglottis, the nasal cavity and the esophagus. We have sensory cells that form capsules that have pores that work like funnels with tiny taste hairs. Proteins on the hairs bind chemicals to the cells for tasting. The smell of the food greatly affects how the brain perceives the taste. Smells are sent to the mouth in a process called olfactory referral. This is why someone with a stuffy nose may have trouble tasting food properly.

Psalm 34 is a Davidic psalm that speaks of God as his provider and deliverer. The 8th verse says, “Taste & see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” When we speak of someone who is good, we speak of someone who exhibits the following qualities: upright, of moral excellence, benevolent, kind, worthy of respect, honorable, competent, reliable, true, genuine or real. Is it any wonder Jesus said in the gospels: "Why do you call me good?" "No one is good--except God alone.” We are frail & broken vessels, especially in comparison to a Holy God. But we are loved without condition in spite of our weaknesses & failings. 

For all those who have tasted of the goodness of the Lord, their life shall never be the same. It may not be a perfect life by their own standards, but it will be a complete life, because our Lord completes us. He is the period at the end of the sentence. Once forgiveness is received it’s all up hill from there. Don’t be like Lot’s wife, who looked longingly back as everything she valued in life burned. The Hebrew defines “looking back” as much more than a glance. For her disobedience she was turned to a pillar of salt & was no more. Don’t be like Lot’s wife. Once you taste of God’s forgiveness, mercy and kindness, you must surely realize the past holds nothing for you any longer. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The 5 Senses Project

Touch

Sight

Hearing

Smell

Taste

 

“Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.”  

 

According to researchers, we are able to smell over 1 trillion scents. ⁽¹⁾ We smell using what is called the ‘olfactory cleft’, that is located on the roof of our nasal cavity. It has nerve endings in the olfactory cleft that transmits various smells to our brain. The sense of smell is important Biblically speaking, because it is involved in how we smell to God. According to scripture we smell as fragrant perfume to our Lord. 

The Temple of God had an altar of incense which was filled with Frankincense. The altar was in the Holy Place, right outside the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place. The smoke from the incense would rise and flow over the veil into the Most Holy Place and fill that place with the fragrant smell of the Frankincense herb. The priests taught that the smoke carried the prayers of the people up to God.

Ephesians 5:2 says, “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for the sweet-smelling fragrance.” In place of the incense burned in the Holy Temple of God in the Old Testament, Christ’s sacrifice of himself for our sins was a fragrant scent to God. We are also as a pleasing scent to our God if we walk in righteousness and are blameless before the Lord.

Right living is paramount in a believer’s life. While there may be several ways to look at certain scriptures, the crux of our belief is never open to interpretation; that being the existence of God, the fact that Jesus was God’s Son, the fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah who willingly died a grisly death on a wooden cross to pay for the multitude of man’s sins. No deviation from those key elements if allowed. Forgiveness is freely available. It’s a prepaid gift. Receive it today. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

 

⁽¹⁾ The American Rhinologic Society.

The 5 Senses Project

Touch

Sight

Hearing

Smell

Taste

 

“Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.” ⁽¹⁾ 

 

            The complex labyrinth that is the human ear enables sound waves to funnel thru a canal to the ear drum which sends vibrations that in turn cause 3 tiny bones (the hammer, anvil & stirrup) to vibrate. Tiny hairs in the inner ear translate these vibrations into electrical impulses which travel to the brain thru sensory nerves. That’s how we hear.

            God gave us the ability to hear. It’s a critical part of our development as humans. Those either born deaf or lose their hearing after birth can certainly learn to communicate and modern medicine and science together have provided such techno advances as cochlear implants. In addition to hearing, the inner workings of your ears enable you to have stable equilibrium. In other words, it keeps you from losing your balance and falling. 

            In Mark 7:31-37, Jesus heals a deaf man who could barely speak. James 1:22 tells us to not just be hearers of the word but doers. Hearing is a gift from our creator God. We listen to various media outlets for instruction and/or entertainment, but what do we do with what we hear. We hear the spoken word on Sunday’s, but have we allowed it to transform our lives? Do we take our ability to hear for granted? What would we do if we suddenly lost that ability? 

            God loves us and wishes us to enjoy all the blessings he has in store for us, but we must be willing to hear his voice and act on what we have heard. If we don’t, we’re no different than those without Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The 5 Senses Project

Touch

Sight

Hearing

Smell

Taste

 

“Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.” ⁽¹⁾ 

 

Sight, or perceiving things through your eyes, is a complex process that we will not go into here, but suffice it to say that believing that the human body with all its intricacies just happened is much harder for me to believe that the existence of a God who created us in our entirety. People seem to only want to believe that which they can understand, but with God that’s not how it works. Even if man could see Almighty God with their own two eyes in all His glory, they would still find a million and one reasons to not believe. With God, we aren’t asked to understand, just believe and trust without seeing. That’s faith.  

Scripture not only speaks of those with sight being touched by Christ, but those without sight being touched as well. While on this earth, the Lord came across a blind beggar named Bartimaeus who was crying out for Jesus to have mercy on him. The interesting thing about this is how he referred to Jesus by his Messianic title, “Son of David”. Bartimaeus knew who he was even without seeing him. It was because of his faith that he was healed.    

There of course was doubting Thomas, who said that he had to see Jesus risen, see his scars and touch the holes in his hands and side before he would believe he was still not dead. It wasn’t until 8 days had passed that Thomas got his wish. Jesus appear among the disciples, though the door was locked and told Thomas to touch his holes with his finger and place his hand on his pierced side. How did Jesus know Thomas felt that way? Who told him? It is one example of God’s being omniscient or being the knower of all things. The poignant statement Jesus then makes is this: “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (John 20:24-31) Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries                   

The 5 Senses Project

Touch

Sight

Hearing

Smell

Taste

 

“Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sensing organs associated with each sense send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.” ⁽¹⁾ 

                  Touch involves various distinct sensations that communicate to our brain thru neurons in our skin. The importance of touching is that it can convey tenderness and compassion towards another human being. This is obviously true if we are the recipients of the touch as well. In the Christian realm Jesus did a lot of touching. Only when dealing with the money changers in the Temple courtyard did he exhibit anger as he tossed the tables and their goods asunder. Jesus metaphorically touched the hearts and lives of not only his disciples, but all who came in contact with him.

                  There is one thing for sure that must transpire regarding touch and our Lord. We all need to be touched by Him. Scripture is clear, (Luke 6:17-19) when it tells us ‘whosoever is touched by Jesus is made perfectly whole’.  Here I give you 5 scriptural instances of Jesus touching individuals. 

In Matthew 8:1-4 the touch of Jesus healed a leper. In Matthew 9:20-22 the touch of Jesus healed a woman with the issue of blood. In Matthew 20:29-34 the touch of Jesus gave sight to the blind. In Luke 22:50-51 the touch of Jesus healed the ear of the high priest’s servant. In Matthew 9:23-26 the touch of Jesus gave life to the dead.

                  Even to this day the touch of Jesus is desperately needed by the huge masses of lost souls who, unbeknownst to them, must make a payment they could never afford. It is a fact that the wealthiest person on earth doesn’t have enough riches to pay for his own forgiveness. That’s because in God’s economy money is worthless; the payment must be made in blood. Not just anyone’s blood, but the blood of a sinless offering. Namely, Jesus Christ.  

                  Touch … they say that is the first of our 5 senses that we use when we are born. It remains important throughout our lives. Allow the Holy Spirit of God to touch you today. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

(1)    www.livescience.com/60752 - human senses.html

Other resources: http://sovereigngrace.homestead.com/files/SermonTouchingJesus.htm

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

I’ve gone through life thinking I was one type of person only to realize that I am someone totally different. I knew I wasn’t selfless, but I wouldn’t have categorized myself as selfish … at least not until now. I’m no different than anyone else. I’m selfish. I should also state that I can tend to be very hard on myself. Some are not at all hard on themselves and thus give themselves a free pass regarding many, if not most, character flaws, claiming that God made them that way. Some folks think way too highly of themselves. Me … I tend to think much less of myself than maybe I should. 

                  In light of all I know from scripture I still worry way too much. What’s up with that? It’s not a lack of faith or at least I don’t think it is. It might be because there are times when what we see or hear with our own eyes and ears can tend to have an immense impact on us and that triggers fear which causes our body to revolt against us in various ways. My stomach churns and causes me problems. Why do we do that to ourselves? I guess because we are imperfect beings, painfully human and don’t know well enough how to rely on God for all things. 

          Fortunately, God knows us all far better than we could ever know ourselves and doesn’t keep count of wrongs. It is equally fortunate that in knowing us intimately, God understands us better than we understand ourselves. God is good, we are trying … yes, we can be very trying indeed. God is patient, we are not. He loves us without a second thought, or any conditions placed upon that love and someday, in spite of myself, I will go to heaven to live with Him forever. And if you are redeemed, so will you, in spite of yourself. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking Ownership of Change

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”- Ephesians 4:29

            We wrestle with our old nature a lot more than we have to and therein lies the basic reason why we all say things we shouldn’t say. We feed our minds with things that we shouldn’t feed it. It’s like the black dog / white dog illustration; the one fed the most is stronger. Feed the white dog. Some things seem ingrained in us. Foul language for example. If the truth be known, we all slip up from time to time. It shouldn’t be a normal speech pattern for us; however, it happens. The scripture that always gnawed at me was in James letter “to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1).

 

James 3:9-12 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olive, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

 

            He’s right. How is it possible that out of our mouths come both blessings and curses? I wish I knew. I am as guilty as the next person. It bothers me a lot and in that I suppose I should take some solace. At least I know the Holy Spirit is still convicting me of my bad behavior. It would be a major cause for concern if I didn’t care that I spoke improperly. It’s all part of the sanctification process. Will we allow ourselves to listen and learn from God’s Spirit so we can effectively alter our behavior? We need to. 

            Our lives, whether Christian or not, are in a constant state of flux. We are changing every day, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. It depends on our heart’s attitude. We should be focusing on God and His word for direction, yet we rarely find the time. Even when we read scripture each day, its message doesn’t stick in our mind, heart or spirit as we forget what we have read moments later when life crowds it out. Our old nature will fight us as long as we let it. We can keep our old nature in check by feeding the white dog within. We can’t do this thing by ourselves. We need the help of God’s Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through this mine field called life. We can do it, but it takes us making an effort to change. God provides that change, we need to take ownership of it. God hasn’t taken us to the place we are at to simply drop us off and walk away. He loves us and will see us through whatever we are going through. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Experiential Peace

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:6-7  

            When it seems as though your whole world is crashing down on top of you it’s very hard not to be anxious. Look at Job in the Old Testament. He lost everything and was then afflicted with boils. You really can’t get much lower than that. In the face of such tragedy and pain Job proclaims in Chapter 1, verse 21: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Paul tells the Philippians not to be anxious or worry regardless of the situations they encounter, but rather turn to prayer as a course of action. We are to be thankful for each set of circumstances we find ourselves in and know that according to the word of God, we shall be at peace if we pray for it. If we focus on our circumstances, we may tend to panic, but if our focus is on the Lord and His promises, calmness will begin to fill us, and we will be at peace. This peace cannot be explained; it certainly makes no sense to the non-believer. 

            To ‘transcend’ means that it exists not in a physical sense, but rather in thought or idea. Peace isn’t something you can experience with your senses but is instead a feeling that comes over you and invades your mind and heart. This is what is meant when Paul says that God will guard your heart and mind. Peace will reside there. It will be experiential. It’s a learned thing. Lasting peace that transcends your being cannot be purchased or found anywhere but with God. It truly passes all comprehension. 

            In the face of multiple tragedies Job was at peace. He realized that all that he had was from God and that God had the right to take away what He had given him. Everything we also have is from God, yet we fret and moan when we have anything taken from us. We blame God as if we had earned it ourselves. We must understand that everything is the Lord’s. He graciously gives us that which we have and needs us to be good stewards of it. The next time we are faced with trying situations, give it up to God and know in your heart that He will take care of you. He will fill you with His peace if you ask for it. Make things a matter of prayer. Speak to Him as you would to your father, for He is your Heavenly Father. Pray believing and not with skepticism. He loves you and cares for your needs.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

God is Our Rescuer

“… if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”- 2 Peter 2:9 

            2 Peter 2:4-9 speaks of examples where sinners were not spared His wrath and the righteous were rescued from calamity. The apostle Peter gives these as a point of reference and proof that God can save godly men from the trials and tribulations that have been allowed and cast out those who warrant punishment for their ungodly lives. Take the time to read the entire chapter, but verses 4-9 in particular. He makes a compelling argument with acts God has done most emphatically throughout scripture to underscore both His mercy and His justice. It becomes clear that those in this life who have received forgiveness for sins and opted to serve God truly have nothing to fear. We fear because we have either forgotten His promises to us or we have never known them. It needn’t be that way for the promises of God are available for all to read. They are best read in the context that they have been written to get the full effect and meaning. God is consistently working on our behalf and is ever mindful of not only our situation, but also the continued misdeeds of the ungodly. They will be dealt with at a preordained time when everything as we know it shall cease to be. 

            Knowing that rescue is always on the mind of our Heavenly Father, we can go through our lives with a boldness that comes from obedient living. Knowing His word and living a life that is pleasing to God breeds this boldness. It’s not a prideful spirit that I speak of, but rather a refreshing joy and confidence that causes us to cast aside all hesitation and proclaim the glory of God to men. If we honor God with our lives, He will honor us. If we dishonor Him, we will be dishonored. Having said that it must be mentioned that God is long-suffering; His patience with us is astounding. I am not aware of anyone this side of heaven who exhibits such patience. His love for us is unconditional and never-ending. This too is a characteristic that is impossible to find in this created world. Most of what we do is based on conditions. It’s as if we were on our own and responsible for our own well-being. While that is true to a certain extent in our daily lives, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to our overall existence. God is watching and doesn’t need to take notes. He knows our heart and knows those who are truly His. Rest in the fact that God loves you and will always take good care of you.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Death of Lazarus

“Jesus said to (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”- John 11:25

This is the accounting of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Mary, the one who put perfume on the feet of Jesus on another occasion and her sister Martha had sent word to the Lord that their brother, Lazarus was sick. Take note that Jesus did not say in response that Lazarus would not die. “When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) Jesus loved all three very much yet stayed where he was two more days. If He had come directly Lazarus might have still been alive and the purposes of God would not have been fulfilled. This is a perfect example of how God knows, and we do not. God declares in Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. God always knows what He is doing and always knows what is best. The word ‘always’ is an absolute word. It means that God knows each and every time without failing or hesitation. God never has to ponder His plans or question Himself. How does He know? He knows because He is omniscient, the knower of all things. There is never a time when God is lost or confused. We are the ones who stumble and fall on our face, not God. 

          Jesus is the source of everlasting life. It is only through Him that we can reach our eternal destination. There is nothing we can do to achieve this on our own. All we can do is believe in Christ; however, it is a little more detailed than that for the devil and his demons also believe (James 2:19) and shudder at the mention of His name. We must surrender our will to the one true living God. If we do so we will never truly die. Oh, we will die physically, but not spiritually. Our physical tent, which houses our soul and spirit, shall turn to dust in the ground, but our soul and spirit shall live in heaven with God for all eternity. 

          Jesus purposely waited so that Lazarus would die. This way He could reveal the miraculous power of God in the resurrection of His friend. This is what Christ meant when He said what He did in verse 4 listed above. God always knows exactly what He is doing. Therefore, we can absolutely and positively trust Him in all things all the time. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Being Irrelevant

“In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”- Philippians 2:5-8  

            How many times have you heard of someone using their position or family ties to avoid some hardship, perhaps military service or even prosecution of a crime? It happens. Now consider who Christ was and it becomes hard to comprehend His actions. You or I may have done exactly what scripture suggests and had a legion of mighty angels come down upon those who sought to harm us. Yet Christ remained silent; He said and did nothing in His own defense. He literally took on the nature of a slave, stepped into mankind and ministered to the needs of those He created. This is the nature He wants us to have to our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

            I have adopted a term regarding myself lately. It is ‘irrelevant’. Now I understand that I am of great value to God and so are you, but I also understand John the Baptist’s words in John 3:30 when he says of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.” While we are of infinite importance to God when it comes to overall importance, He is far more important than we will ever be. What I mean by that is that He is the provider of redemption, we are the receiver of redemption. The creature can never be greater than its creator. So I am trying to serve God, yet remain irrelevant. Regarding books I have written, God is paramount, I am irrelevant. Whether people know my name or who I am is inconsequential and unimportant to me. It is far more important that His word get out to encourage and edify the body and minister salvation to a lost and dying world than for me to receive fame and fortune. That is what I mean by being irrelevant. I see myself as precious in the eyes of God, yet in reality nothing more than a speck of sand on the immense beach of life. He must increase; I must decrease. God shares His glory with no one and far be it from me to seek even the tiniest bit of that glory for myself. 

            The death Christ suffered to the hands of evil men reveals to us the heart’s motivation of those who are unbelievers. They wish to snuff out any threat to their lifestyle or way of thinking. It’s no different today. Still, God is ready to receive all who would reach out to Him.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Godly Traits

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of other as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” – Philippians 2:3-5 

                  Although Paul’s main reason for writing this letter was to thank the brethren at Philippi for their generous gift, he also had to address a problem of disunity. Because we are human, we cause many of our own problems. It is difficult for some, perhaps most, people in general and more specifically, believers, to not be what Paul is stating we are. When I read the above verses I stop and say, in a rather whimsical way, ‘I resemble that remark’. It’s true. We are all painfully flawed and broken. Paul says we mustn’t be selfish, which to me is like saying ‘don’t breathe’. Our first inclination needs to be another’s need and not our own, but as hard as we try, we are not good people. Let’s be honest with ourselves. We tend to be self-centered, self-absorbed individuals who consider Godly things somewhere down the list of importance.

                  Paul is telling the church brethren what they ought to do and what they ought not to do. Like the Philippian church we too are to love one another and put others first, thus bringing about unity. Let disagreements evaporate in the light of our compassionate God. Stop judging others based on externals. Pray for one another. 

The characteristics listed above should have no place in the heart and mind of a man of God, yet we struggle with them. There are times when I wonder why God has anything to do with me. Though I try, I struggle to stay focused and maintain consistency in my walk. In a way, it’s kind of like trying to walk across a Circus high wire juggling balls. If we would just give that entire situation over to God to orchestrate for us, we’d be much better off. 

Study Christ’s word, actions and reactions to things around him. Study him like you were preparing to play his part in a play. Living a Christ-like life will become very fulfilling, but we have to put down the TV remote and do it. God wants us to succeed in this life in His name. Success in God’s economy is real and eternal. Success in this world brings about temporal satisfaction. Take Paul’s words to heart. Look in the mirror and access yourself. Let the Spirit extricate the undesirable traits and replace them with Christ-like traits. It’s a matter of allowing God to mold you into all you can be in Him. Let Him do His thing in you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Fixing Our Eyes on God

“The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”- Psalm 121:7-8 

            Here is another couple verse of scripture that reveal to us how God cares for His children. Nothing will happen to us that God doesn’t either cause or allow. How could it possibly be any other way? If there was even one thing that was not in His control, He would cease to be who He says He is. If He is truly all knowing and ever present, then how could anything be out of His control? In my estimation there couldn’t be. God promises, in far more places than just verse 7, that He will watch over us and keep us from all harm just like a shepherd does for his flock. We are safe in His care. There is nowhere that we can go that He is unaware of. He has intimate knowledge of all our comings and goings. 

            This can be very good news, or it can be very bad news, depending on where we are and what we are doing. If we are somewhere we ought not to be, then it is bad news. We may keep our whereabouts concealed from everyone on the planet, but God knows exactly where we are every second of every day. If we are where we are supposed to be or perhaps need to be and we are doing that which we should or need to be doing and if our intentions are pure and honorable, then we have absolutely nothing to fear. If evil have crept into our hearts and we are doing that which is wrong in the sight of God, then the fear of earthly things is the least of our problems. 

            Knowing God’s word and living it are two very different things. If we are attempting to live it daily God will, by His Holy Spirit, guide us in the way that we should go. To live it we must know it and to know it we must read it, but even knowing God’s word backwards and forwards does a person no good if they don’t put it into practice. God is patiently looking for those who will allow themselves to be molded into the likeness of His Son. It’s a long, arduous lifelong process, but a process that is more than worthwhile. Living for God blesses us and in turn has the potential to bless those around us. God is watching over us continually and will never allow things to go off track if our eyes are fixed on Him and Him alone. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Who Do You Trust?

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1-2

This Psalm was one of the Songs of Ascent, sung by those going to the Temple to worship God. There were mountains around Jerusalem, a city on a hill. As worshippers climb up to the city they looked up upon the mountains, where altars once existed. They no doubt reflected on the past and remembered that their help didn’t come from idols, but from Almighty God.

Climbing can be an arduous task, but to worship God in His Temple was worth it. Our own lives can resemble a difficult climb at times. Like the Jews we know unequivocally from whom it comes … the one and only God of Heaven and Earth. It’s not a ‘crutch’ for the weak as unbelievers have mockingly said. We all trust in something or someone … believers choose to trust in God. Faith comes in many forms and towards many things or individuals, but it takes a special kind of faith to believe in someone who cannot be experienced with your senses. 

The clincher regarding who we should place our faith and trust in is in the phrase ‘Maker of heaven and earth’. That tops every other attribute that one might come up with. There is only one Creator of all things. That is where our help comes from, not just anyone, but Almighty God … the One who was and is and always shall be. Fear not my brethren, God will never leave or forsake us. He is our provider and our healer. He will crush our enemies under His foot. God is our Heavenly Father as well as the One who orchestrated our salvation from sin. What a major blessing to know the One who created you in your mother’s womb. Keep your faith and trust squarely on God forever and always … in any and all situations and circumstances. Keeping these things in mind helps us believe and know that we have absolutely nothing in this world to fear. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Avoid False Teachers

“… such persons are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

            Throughout the world today there are many who would speak and act as though they are a friend to Christianity, yet in their hearts there is darkness. How would we know who they are? How could we know when we are being duped by those who masquerade as believers of Christ? Their only mission is to subtly implant division within the body. Frankly, without the discernment provided by the Holy Spirit and the wisdom found in God’s word, we wouldn’t. Sweet talking jackals would try to persuade you, just as Satan did Eve in the Garden of Eden, to believe that which we should know to be untrue. We are at their mercy if we do not have the proper armaments. God provides for us all we will ever need to ward off the devil and live a victorious life, yet we go out without them leaving ourselves vulnerable. 

            Being an American doesn’t automatically make us a Christian, although some seem to think so. Neither does going to church, nor saying all the right things or even doing good deeds. It’s a conscious choice of the soul, mind and spirit that chooses to believe and receive the redemption God so freely offers us all. Playacting only wastes your time and accomplishes nothing. God can see through a person’s histrionics as we would see through a freshly washed window. Thus, it is so with those impersonating a follower of Christ. We see it in ministry throughout the world; false teacher’s hell bent on leading folks down a parallel path which veers off into oblivion. The followers become devout, taking the bait in the form of false teaching(s) ‘hook, line and sinker’. 

           It’s only through diligence that we can avoid such a travesty. Many a faithful servant down through the ages has been lured by the hope of an easier path or a more palatable teaching. The ways of God require discipline. There is no easy way, for Christ is the only way to heaven. There is no other way to receive the forgiveness of sins, no matter how many people say there is. Truth doesn’t lie in the number of constituents, but rather in the identity of the source. Many seem easily drawn to honey dripping from the lips of silver tongue devils simply because they can be seen, heard with their own ears and perhaps even touched. Don’t be fooled. As scripture declares, “their end will be what their actions deserve”. 

            Study God’s word. Know His voice. Discern by His Spirit and you will avoid being drawn off the narrow path God has chosen for you to travel down a very specific path, but, without God’s direction, we’ll be like rudderless ships prone to wandering aimlessly about. It doesn’t need to be that way. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Living for God

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”- Isaiah 48:17

 

Throughout the Old Testament the nation of Israel proved to be a stubborn, stiff-necked people. In Chapter 48, the prophet Isaiah is voicing God’s reminders of what He has said to them and done for them in the past. Above we see a key reminder that we can apply to ourselves as well.

God was and is and ever shall be. He knows all things that can be known and attempts to teach us that which is in our best interests. We, as the people of God, believe in our hearts far too often that we can find our own way and know what is best for us. However, we cannot know. We are too easily drawn off the righteous path by the baubles and bangles of this life. Even the most focused individual struggles to stay on course, stopping all along the way to dabble in diversions. We find it hard to comprehend that God truly knows us better than we could ever hope to know ourselves and definitely has our best interests at heart. However, seeking, waiting and knowing God takes time and many times we simply aren’t willing to wait. 

 

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 21:2 “All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.”

 

Unfortunately, those outside the faith take far too many things in the Bible as mere suggestions. Solomon, in all His wisdom, authored the Proverbs for our instruction and spiritual growth, yet non-believers still haven’t accepted the truth that is right before them. Believers forget where we came from and whose we are. It’s God who created us and God who wishes to assist us in this life. Anyone who fails to realize this, will stumble through life unfulfilled and ill at ease. Believe in God or don’t, but don’t say you believe and then ignore His directives. Being a Christian isn’t simply going to church on Sundays or any other day for that matter. Being a Christian is allowing God to alter your life from the inside out each day of your life on this earth. It’s a personal, very intimate relationship like no other. Christ didn’t die for us to live as we choose, but rather for us to choose to live for Him. Don’t rationalize your faith, look at it straight on as if looking in a mirror, and decide how you will live.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

His Will and His Way

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” – Psalm 145:10 NIV

                  David wrote this Psalm to pray for deliverance from his enemies and divine direction so he can walk in a way that please his Lord. In this verse David implores God to teach him His will. David expresses his loyalty by saying as a part of his prayer that Jehovah is his God and no one else. The good Spirit mentioned is, of course, the Holy Spirit and the ‘level ground’ reference is meaning that the Spirit is able to lead David on smooth and not bumpy paths.

                  We may not have enemies that we are fleeing from, such as King David, but we certainly need to know God’s will for us. Prayer, quite simply, is conversation with God. Well, if the truth be told, it’s usually a one-sided conversation with us pouring out our problems and our needs, as if God is being made aware of them for the first time. The Lord knows all about us and likes to hear from us (often). So how come we only pray when we need something? Why don’t we spend time praising and worshipping his name for no other reason than He is worthy of all praise and worship.

                  So, take the time each day to seek His will for you and become finely tuned to that will so that your paths are level. Our free will can become a dangerous thing is not reigned in and controlled. We can do whatever we want, but not everything will bring about good and favorable results. We must accept the fact that we cannot do this life on our own. God gave us a guide, why not utilize him. Not seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout your life will make the path you’re on much more difficult. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries