He Paid a Debt He Didn't Owe

“We all, like sheep, went astray; we turned, each one, to his own way; yet Adonai laid on him the guilt of all of us.”- Isaiah 53:6 ^{Complete Jewish Bible [CJB]}

            Mankind may think they’re not all that bad, but scripture tells us in Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Let’s face it, man doesn’t like to serve anyone, but rather develop into self-serving individuals who end up going thru their life like wandering sheep. We all sin, therefore, we all owe our lives in payment for the forgiveness we have received. But we cannot die to pay for our own sins, because we are not sinless, which is what was and still is required. Christ was the spotless lamb, the only sinless man. The one who knew no sin, became sin that we might be the righteousness of God. ^{[2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV]}  

            Imagine the weight of all the sins that have ever been committed. That is what Christ had to endure. Pain, anguish, suffering and finally, separation from God, something Christ had never experienced before. 

            When we continue to sin is it not as if we’ve crucified Christ all over again? I believe it is. Christ willingly took a beating by the Roman soldiers and was ridiculed and falsely accused of crimes he did not commit. He was so badly beaten and bloodied that he was barely recognizable. ^{[Isaiah 52:14 CJB]} He did that willingly for you and for me. He bore our shame, loving us enough to drink that bitter cup of our sin. That fact alone humbles me so much. How about you? Let us pledge our allegiance to the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. Serving God is not a requirement that is mandated, it is a privilege. It should be our honor to give the Lord our all every day. This world will someday go away. All that will remain is what God has ordained. We’re just passing thru this place on our way to our eternal home. Praise be to Jesus; we will then be home. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Isaiah 52:14 Complete Jewish Bible - “Just as many were appalled at him, because he was so disfigured that he didn’t even seem human and simply no longer looked like a man, …”.

 

Adonai - Lord or Master; can refer to an earthly master, but in scripture it refers to the Lord God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ. It is pronounced a-doe-nigh’ (short ‘a’ - long ‘o’ - long ‘i’).

Word for the Day

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

    I go thru periods where I doubt my own abilities. I wonder if others go thru that as well. There are times when I draw into myself and don’t want to participate with others. Sometimes reality eludes me. I wonder if that’s due to seeing the Matrix movies when they came out < chuckle >. We all go thru various difficult periods in our life. We largely keep it all to ourselves because we don’t have anyone in our lives that care the way we think they should. Our spouses care, but we still manage to keep things inside. I think, for me anyway, I don’t know how to coherently verbalize what’s rolling around in my alleged rational mind. Just because I’m a follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t make me exempt from having irrational thoughts. I am human, made by God’s own hand. We all enhance or harm ourselves throughout our lives based on those things outside of God that have influenced us. Am I alone? Can anyone relate? I know God loves me and though I find that pretty incredible, as in hard to believe, I don’t doubt it. God is perfect, I am not. God understands everything, I barely understand anything. I want to be used and believe I am based on the reactions I’ve gotten from others. I may doubt myself, even my own sanity at times, but I do not doubt God. So when I am traversing thru a low point in my life, I pray, praise, make requests and anything else that seems appropriate at the time, because the low points don’t last forever if you’re relying on the Lord to provide for and sustain you. Does any of what I’ve written make any sense or is this just another one of my inane ramblings? It makes sense to me, so I guess that makes it alright. In the end the only thing that really matters is lovingly living like Jesus each day and praise our Heavenly Father that he’s given us that opportunity by his grace. If you wish to comment, please go right ahead. I’ve actually never asked anyone to comment. Let’s see what happens. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Life in Christ

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ^NIV

            It is Paul’s point that we should be persuaded by Christ’s incredible & eternal love for us that we would live for him and not ourselves. It’s our choice. He died for us to have life and that more abundantly.^[1] We have died to ourselves, therefore we should not come alive to our old self once again since we have been resurrected to new life. That is like a dog returning to its vomit.^[2]

            Living for God is not to be taken lightly. We will stand before the judgment seat of Christ someday and give an account of all we have done in this life, both good and bad.^[3] A reckoning ^{(a settling of accounts)} is coming to this world and it would be shear foolishness to have the answer, yet still flunk the test. This world has absolutely nothing to offer us that can favorably compare to eternity with God in his heaven. Nothing at all. Everything in this world is temporal, even our very lives. These flesh tents that we live in this side of heaven will grow old, wither and die one day. But our hope lies in the afterlife, where we will have new spirit bodies that shall be incorruptible and eternal.

            Paul said in his letter to the Philippian church, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” ^{[Phil. 1:21 NIV]} Who would say such a thing but a man whose life had been changed for the better by Jesus Christ. We toil in this life until it comes time to leave this world. Our future destination is up to us and God honors our wishes. Should we choose to live our life based on what we feel, and think is real without even considering the future consequences of such a choice, we will end up in hell. And it is by our own choice. God sends no one to hell. By virtue of the free will we have been given, those who end up apart from God have done so of their own volition. Those who end up in heaven with our Lord have also done so by choice. Serve God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength out of love, because you have chosen to. You must realize you don’t have to, but your eternal destination hangs in the balance. Determine to life for Christ, for it is the only way to spend eternity with him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] “The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.” - John 10:10 Complete Jewish Bible.

^[2] “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.”- Proverbs 26:11 New Living Translation.

^[3] “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”- 2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Christ, Our Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”- Psalm 23:1 ^NIV

            Psalm 23 is a Psalm of trust. “This beautiful metaphor of a divine Shepherd who cares for his people, individually and corporately, occurs numerous places in the OT. The NT also portrays Jesus as our great and good shepherd.” ^[1] David grew up caring for sheep, therefore, he spoke out of personal experience. If Jesus is the Good Shepherd, then we are the sheep, not frightened, passive animals, but ones that are obedient followers. A true, dedicated believer will have a deep abiding desire to listen to and obey the Good Shepherd, because he knows what is best for all of us. It’s a matter of trust.

            Just as the shepherd cares for every aspect of a sheep’s life, so Christ does the same for us. Therefore, we will lack nothing in this life and the life to come. This Psalm doesn’t focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep, but rather the discipleship qualities of those who follow him. 

            The statement, “I lack nothing”, is not saying that anything we desire shall be ours, but rather, whatever we are in “need” of we shall have. God provides for our needs. He doesn’t give us anything we desire. He is NOT a genie in a bottle. Not at all. This is why we ought to pray for the will of God to come to fruition in our lives. God knows everything that can be known and so he knows all that we desire, however, what good would it do us if we received everything we could ever want without any discriminatory cautious taken. That isn’t living by faith and certainly will teach us nothing of eternal value. God knows this so he administers only our needs so as to keep us from becoming spoiled and greedy. You can count on the fact that whatever you are legitimately in need us you will receive when God knows you must need it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. OT scriptural references to God as the divine Shepherd: Psalm 80:1; 95:7, 100:3; Genesis 48:15; 49:24.

NOTE: In the New Testament, Jesus is revealed as the shepherd of His people (John 10:11, 14), fulfilling the prophecy that God will come to shepherd His people (Ezek. 34:7–16, 23). - THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE.

Dig Your Roots Dig

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”- Jeremiah 17:7-8 

          What a wonderful image this provides for our mind’s eye. A thriving tree whose roots dig deep into the moisture rich soil for sustenance. When we trust in the Lord, we will thrive in all aspects of our life. As we live for Him, we shall be forever provided for and sustained. Knowing in our hearts that God controls all things, we have absolutely nothing to fear. Being human we will be apprehensive regarding upcoming events; however, over time we will realize that we have been concerned over nothing. If God truly either causes or allows all things to take place and we are in right standing with Him, then quite literally, there is nothing to for us to concern ourselves with. Just as God parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites, so shall He make a way for you when there appears to be no way. Psalm 1:3 paints the same picture: “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” “That person” is whoever places his full trust in the Lord and as a result delights in His laws. As New Testament believers the only law we are bound by is the law of love. We are to love one another for this fulfills the law of Moses ^{(Romans 13:8-10)}. 

          Are you confident in the Lord today? Based on scripture He is worthy of our trust, reliance and full confidence. God has never failed to do that which He has said He would do. He hasn’t always done what we have wanted done or what we felt needed to be done, but God has always done for us what He knew in His great wisdom would be best for us. Looking back on our lives, can we honestly dispute this? Tell me that any problem we found ourselves in was not by our own hand. If we submit to His Lordship in our lives and dig deep into the soil of His word, we will grow “like a tree planted by the water” and we shall prosper even as our soul prospers. ^{(3 John 1:2).} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

             Yesterday was my birthday. I am 66 years old. I can’t believe I was born 66 years ago. That’s a long time. Some of my past is hazy for some reason. I have spotty recollections of my years growing up. I remember I grew up in what would probably be considered a normal middle-class home in Middletown, NJ. I went thru the Middletown public school system and 4 years of college at Montclair State in Northern NJ. I’ve had a pretty good life … no complaints. Went to my fair share of rock concerts and professional sporting events growing up. But the event that has shaped my adult life more than anything else was my decision to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior back in 1979. 

It just so happens that I did it on my 24^th birthday because I am a guy, and we have this odd tendency to forget important dates in our lives. My walk with the Lord has been a bit of a roller coaster ride at times, but if I’ve learned anything in my life, I’ve learned that no matter how inconsistent I am in my walk, Christ is consistently there, the lone stable force in my life. His unconditional love and grace have kept me sane (for the most part). I’ve learned that no matter what the world is pushing as the next best great thing never really is and that I haven’t missed out on anything. I've been thru some challenging, depressing and very difficult times, largely due to poor decisions I’ve made, yet I stand … stronger in my faith than ever before. I do not look back at what might have been, I look forward at what can be and with God’s help, will be. There is nothing this world has to offer anyone that can top what the Lord freely offers … forgiveness and an eternal home with him.

The world is the devil’s playground and while there are many godly and worthwhile things to enjoy, there is nothing much of any eternal value. God has been very good to me and thru it all I am exceedingly grateful for his mercy and compassion toward me. God has guided me thru this crazy, sin-sick world and even carried me when I couldn’t walk from the weight of what I was dealing with at the time. I am grateful for my wife Kathy, who like God, loves me unconditionally and forevermore. I am grateful for the 7-year-old Dachshund-Black Lab pups that have brought so much joy into our lives. And I am grateful for every one of my 66 years. I wouldn’t change a thing … the highs or the lows … because they are what has helped mold me into the man that stands before you today. I end with this line from a beautiful chorus I know … “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name. Master, Savior Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away, but there’s something about that name.” I long to “look full in his wonderful face, for the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.” Amen. Praise you Jesus … praise you, my Lord.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

The Keys to Living Like Christ

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”- Colossians 3:12 ^NIV

            This verse is from Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae. The letter was written to combat the errors that existed in the church and show them that Christ is all they will ever need. He reveals a way to help believers live for Christ each day. 1 - Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude; 2 - allow yourself to be led by love; 3 - let Christ’s peace rule and reign in your heart; 4 - always be thankful; 5 - keep God’s word in you at all times; 6 - see yourself as Christ’s ambassador and live that way.

            Imitating Christ in our daily walk takes patient endurance. We must be diligent and determined, understanding that those outside the faith will always be ready to scrutinize your words and actions, as if they know how you are supposed to act better than you do. Don’t be a phony. The unsaved see right thru that. To truly live a Christ-like life you must make the commitment to continually seek to draw closer to the Lord. It doesn’t happen without you making the effort. 

            In verse 13 it talks about forgiving others the same way you’ve been forgiven by your Heavenly Father. It is very difficult to hate or despise another person when you know far too well how much God paid to purchase your own forgiveness. His infinite love and forgiveness stand as a shining example of how we are to be in our own lives. We’re not perfect, so it will be as hard to forgive others as we make it. 

Focus on Christ and not yourself or someone else. No matter what issue may present itself, God is always there to lovingly guide and direct you thru the power of his Holy Spirit. Learn scripture and utilize its wisdom in your life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: Scriptural Footnotes from the Life Application Study Bible.

The Lord is with Us

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” - Psalm 118:6 ^NIV

There is no question that it is far better to place your trust in Almighty God than in mortal man. There is nothing mortal man can do for you or to you. God, the knower of all things and the protector of the righteous, watches over us at all times. Scripture tells us that God neither slumbers, nor does he sleep. ^[a] Therefore, he is completely aware of all your comings and goings … and the comings and goings of your enemies as well.

As with Job, there may be things you go thru in your life that God has allowed for a very specific reason. We may never know the reason, but that is where we must allow our trust in God to take over. He will never do anything to harm us. Please understand that while mortal man can take your life, no one can take your soul. This is why we should serve God with reckless abandon, because nothing can stop a move of God. 

I can tend to be a very quiet, docile sort of person a lot of the time, so I need very much to try to jolt myself awake in the face of the calamitous events we see unfolding all around us. So, when I write things that may seem forceful, it is first meant to jostle me into moving on behalf of the Lord. My devotionals started back in 2011 as a means of inspiring myself and it has blossomed into what you read today. I am no spiritual giant by any means which is why I feel a kinship to other believers because I believe in my heart that many of you may be just a little bit like me. I love the Lord with all my heart and pray daily for more boldness as I travel thru this life. God uses me as he wills, and he uses you all the same way. Let’s be open to the movement of his Spirit so that we might minister to this corrupt and evil society in which we live as God wishes us to. We have nothing to fear but fear itself ^[b]. And fear has no place in the life of a believer.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[a] Psalm 121:3-4. “The psalmist writes, ‘He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’”

^[b] FDR’s 1933 Inaugural Speech: Opening line … “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is … fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

Jesus is the Door

Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’^[a] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”- Acts 4:11-12 ^NIV

            ^{Peter and John were ministering to the people in Jerusalem and had just healed a lame man in Jesus’ name. The Pharisees had witnessed this and approached them. They asked the two apostles by what authority do they do what they have done. Peter spoke of Jesus to them, and they were not pleased. They thought they were rid of Jesus, but he became more powerful in death. After the Upper Room experience when his disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit of God, they were emboldened to proclaim the name of Jesus and minister healing in his name. The Pharisees put them in jail overnight and then brought them before the Sanhedrin the next morning. They were being interrogated for a kindness they had done. During the course of Peter explanation to the religious leaders he said the above text. The original text in Psalms 118 says “the stone THE builders rejected… “, Peter specifically used the accusatory word “you”, placing the blame for their rejection of Christ squarely where it belonged.}

            ^{Peter’s statement about salvation speaks to every other religious based system of belief. Jesus is the door all must go thru. There is no other way to pay for our lifetime of sin. There is nothing we can do to achieve salvation, it is a free gift, though it was not free at all, but paid for by the life of one extraordinary man: The God-man Jesus Christ.} 

            ^{In these last days we must, as Peter had done, allow the boldness provided by God’s Holy Spirit to well up within us so as to minister the gospel message to a dying world. One day, as with the ark in Noah’s day, the proverbial door will close, and it will be too late to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. All true believers must rise up in prayer and praise to our God as we prepare for battle against the forces of evil at work in our midst. And may God’s perfect will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.}

^{Rich Keller}

^{Bread of Life Ministries}

[a] Psalm 118:19-24 “Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

Possessing Godly Qualities

“…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”- 2 Peter 1:5-9 ^NIV

            This is Peter’s 2^nd letter to the church-at-large, in which he warns Christians about the false teachers that were attempting to infiltrate the local churches. He urged the believers to work at growing in faith and the knowledge of Christ. This was not an option, but rather a command. It’s not something that happens automatically, it takes hard work. These characteristics weren’t to be worked on one at a time, but rather all at the same time. They are to become a regular part of their daily lives.

            The false teachers were saying that performing deeds was not important because they can in no way save someone. While this is true, it’s false to think deeds are unimportant. Performing deeds in the name of the Lord is a natural outcropping of one’s faith. Our love for the Lord should drive us to do things on his behalf.

            It’s God’s desire to develop his character in us, but we must want to be more like Christ in our daily life and that will require self-control and discipline. God will take our desire and by his Holy Spirit empower and enable us to learn and grow. As you grow in the things of the Lord you may find that the worldly things you’ve 

enjoyed in the past will grow less interesting and important to you. It’s not that the shows you watch on TV or the books you read are necessarily bad for you, it’s just that God is moving front and center in your life and spending time with him seems of paramount importance. This doesn’t mean that you must utter the name of Jesus with each breathe you take or involve biblical themes in everything you do … no, it’s just that God wants to be with you and wants your undivided attention. That may seem strange in the beginning but will become much more natural over time. Strive to be like Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing. 

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Are You Blessed?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”- Jeremiah 17:7-8 ^(NIV)  

What a mental picture Jeremiah paints for us. A tree planted by a stream feeding it nourishment continuously. Have you ever known such a place? I have. I used to take long walks on Saturdays during my teen years. The serenity of those walks was unparalleled. The writer states that the person who places his trust in the Lord is blessed … not was blessed or will be blessed but IS blessed or HIGHLY FAVORED. God favors His children and if you are a true believer in Christ, then YOU are highly favored by God. 

What a wonderful thing to hear. Think about it. Don’t just read it and run. Consider who you are to God. Consider who God is. Do you realize what an honor and privilege it is to be not just favored, but HIGHLY favored by the creator of the entire universe? However, this doesn’t just happen to anyone, it happens to those who have placed their trust in Him. Though it is not specifically stated, the implication is that we are to give our entire life over to Him and trust Him no matter what comes our way. We are to rely on Him in all situations and circumstances. May the Holy Spirit enable us to do just that all the days of our lives. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

“When the future is uncertain & you aren’t sure which direction to go, know that God loves you & has you in the palm of his hand. Simply pray ‘Lord, may your perfect will be done in my life.’ You see, God knows everything that can be known, so he knows exactly what is needed to bring about his will in your life. When it comes to trials and various difficulties, the LORD knows how much you can take & because of his great love for you he will never fail you. Trust him to carry you thru to the other side of any situation & be at peace.”

There is no question we are living in uncertain times. There is nothing consistent with how things are going, but this world can be a pretty crazy mess at times. The only thing that IS consistent is the daily dose of uncertainty we’re being forced to swallow each day. God understands how we all feel and has a definitive plan to bring everything back in line with his will for our nation and for the individuals who love him and seek to serve him.

Rest in the knowledge that God is still on his throne and prayer changes things. In a split second everything we see before us and believe to be true can change. The LORD is the supreme timekeeper and will let nothing happen to us that he doesn’t either cause or allow for our greatest overall benefit and his greatest glory. It’s a matter of faith and trust. God has never let any of us down. He is trustworthy. If you don’t yet have a personal, intimate relationship with your maker, ask him into your life now. Don’t wait for we are not promised tomorrow. ^{[James 4:14]} Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

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

NOTE: The statement in quotation marks at the top of the page is something God laid on my heart this morning while I was at work. 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Have you ever met anyone who seemed to think that if they were destined to go to hell that would be alright, because he or she and their friends would just party all the time? They might be the same people who say Christianity is for people who are weak and need a crutch to lean on. These are the people that live for themselves and pay no mind to any sort of god. Preachers are a joke to them, and life has become one carefree, spirited adventure.

                  Revelation 21:8 says the following about hell and those who shall go there: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 20:15 says: “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

                  Man’s desire to live for himself and answer to no one will set them on a course for everlasting hell where there will be no parties. I’ve heard it preached that those in hell can smell Sulphur and feel scorching heat forever with no water to quench their parched lips.  Demons will torment them day and night with no reprieve. It will be no party, that’s for sure. 

                  As believers in Christ, we must ask God to see the lost the way HE sees them. We must also ask for a glimpse of hell. When I think of the unsaved, I picture in my mind’s eye someone walking on a high wire which is stretched across a bottomless, fiery abyss. Too often I have become consumed by my own issues to reach out with God’s forgiveness to lost souls. May God have mercy on me, may God have mercy on all of us. May we allow ourselves to be moved upon so as to boldly proclaim the gospel message to a lost and dying world. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Why is it that when things go right people ‘thank their lucky stars’ or say, ‘somebody up there must like me’, but when something goes wrong, they blame God? Have you ever noticed that? Belief in God is not quite that simplistic. While it’s true God either causes or allows everything that takes place in this life for his own purposes, these things are designed to teach us, not harm us in any way. 

When Superstorm Sandy decimated the Jersey Shore, there was a big headline in a local paper with the words of a Baptist preacher that said, “Where is God?” Now I’m not going to pretend to know or understand why God allowed that to take place, but I’m not going to blame him for what happened either. It’s a matter of faith and trust. You either trust God or you don’t. 

            We don’t know everyone’s back story either, but God knows everything that can be known. There are times we need to simply strap ourselves to the mast and ride out whatever it is that we’re going thru, trusting God that he will see you thru it. 

            This life is full of pitfalls and going it alone is not the answer. That’s the surest way I know to become depressed, even despondent. Without God what hope do we really have? In the gospels, people were leaving Jesus’ entourage because it was apparently getting a little too difficult for them. So, Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” 

            When life becomes a little too tough to bear, turn to the Lord. Trust him to do right by you. He’s never failed at anything he has ever done. Don’t blame him, trust him.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

NOTE: To ‘strap yourself to the mast’ is what a captain or other sailor would do during rough seas to keep from being washed overboard.          

God is our Comforter

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ^NIV

            The Apostle Paul‘s character & authority to minister on behalf of the Lord had come under attack, so he wrote this letter to the Corinthian church to set the record straight. More specifically, our text is saying that God had comforted him and those with him along with the church’s prayer support. It was important to say to his readers that their comfort and support ministered to Paul and company that they might also be a comfort to others. Likewise, the Corinthians believers were to take this example and comfort others even as they had been comforted.

            Stressful times are no different today as they were back in Bible times. Some are better equipped to handle it, some are not, but with God as our source of peace and comfort we need not be stressed at all. Paul makes it clear in verse 10 that God delivered them from deadly peril, and he will deliver them again as is necessary. The only sure and constant hope they had, and we have as well is God alone. Only God can deliver us from calamity. He is our only hope.

            Let’s be clear about this, because God is our comforter, this does not mean our problems will suddenly disappear. If that were true, then we would seek him only to remove our pain and suffering and not out of our love for him. Troubles will always be here with us. It is through our dealings with trials that we become better prepared to minister to the needs of others. So, you see there is a purpose for everything we go through. God’s ways are not our ways. He causes and/or allows everything that takes place in this life for his own purposes and our edification, therefore, we shouldn’t balk at trouble. Learn what the Lord is trying to teach you through your trial and tuck that lesson away for future reference. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Several years ago, I remember passing a golf practice range of a local country club which was off a back road leading to a woodsy area. Parked on the side of the road was an Audi. It would appear that the driver had snuck onto the practice range to hit some balls without paying. I've seen guys sneak onto regular courses and play the better part of a round of golf to beat the cost. Some may call me a stickler, but that's cheating in its most basic form. I was raised to be a rule follower. The argument could be made that it is because I am German ... toe the party line and all that. I’m just wired like that. I guess it makes me wonder if they will cheat at something so inane, what else would they cheat at; their taxes, sneaking in the back door at a movie or concert ... the possibilities are endless. Now without a doubt I've made more than my fair share of judgment errors, but that doesn't make anything OK. The end does NOT justify the means.

God has a certain standard that He wants us to follow. It stands to reason that believers in Christ will be more prone to obey these standards than those who are not. There are no shortcuts to heaven. No back doors, no side road entrance to sneak through. We must all receive Christ to be forgiven; there are no substitutes for that. None. So, do what you please, but know that not all the things that we engage in will benefit us. I have found that out myself on a number of occasions. Forgiveness is for the asking and with that comes hope. Without Christ what hope does any person really have?

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Truth vs. Fiction

“Don't let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ.”- Colossians 2:8 ^{[Contemporary English Version]}

There are many in this life who would challenge believers with feeble human arguments. Atheists, for instance, pride themselves in their unbelief, however, no matter how brilliant they think they are their words are powerless and useless in the face of the truth of God. They have chosen not to follow Christ because they desire to rule themselves; it’s called ‘autonomy’. They do not want to have to answer to any higher authority. If that is the case one would think they would be against all government rule and become anarchists as well.

Some people who choose not to believe in God have a desire to make true believers out to be lunatics and fools, yet we know God cannot be mocked for as the scripture states, “what you sow, so shall you reap” ^{[Galatians 6:7]}.  Just because they don’t believe a word of the Bible doesn’t keep its’ truth from coming to fruition. 

Don’t allow these individuals to influence you in any way. Immerse yourself in God’s word and turn a deaf ear to their inane ramblings. In the end, their words amount to nothing more than idle babble, spoken for their own personal gratification. If you doubt the existence of God, open your heart and mind and ask Him today if He truly is who He says He is. If you are sincere, then you will find out what billions of others across the globe have found to be true … that God is real, and Christ really did die to pay for your sins. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Character Flaws to Avoid

“… rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”- 1 Peter 2:1 ^(NIV)

God, in His infinite wisdom, has given us an entire book which chronicles the history of the Hebrew nation; their rejection of Christ as their Messiah and the grafting in of the gentiles as recipients of the precious salvation gift that was originally meant for God’s chosen people, the Jews. In its’ pages we, as believers in Christ, are instructed in many ways regarding many important topics. Perhaps one that is most important, because it can be so incredibly devious and destructive both within and outside the body of Christ are those negative attributes listed above. 

We are to rid ourselves of these heinous character flaws. We are still human and therefore prone to exhibit them from time to time. It takes a conscience effort to rid ourselves of such behavior patterns. Life can be cruel and those in it the ones administering the cruelty. We must not lash out. We must not be two-faced. We must not wish ill upon anyone. It is a battle that we will face so often that it will seem continuous. We must embrace Christ, so we become all that God intends us to be. Without Christ in our lives, we WILL succumb to the temptation of living out each and every one of those negative personality traits and will be miserable in the process. Surrender your will to God. Only He can save us from ourselves. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

MALICE (def): A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite.

DECEIT (def): The act or practice of deceiving; deception.

We're Imperfect ... God Forgives

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.”- Job 23:10-11 ^(NIV)

            In verses 8 & 9, Job says he doesn’t know where to find the physical presence of God. He cannot sense his presence at all. However, having said that he continues in today’s text by proclaiming the word “But …”. In other words, it’s as if Job is saying, ‘I may not know where to find my God, but he knows me and that is good enough.’ 

            Job had wanted to plead his case with God, knowing that he is fair and would hear him out. Eliphaz, one of his so-called friends, has been trying to condemn him for some secret sin, but Job tells Eliphaz of his confidence in his own integrity and God’s justice. 

            Many of us may have hidden sins in our lives. In fact, we may not even realize we have such a sin. If we are true believers, all our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross in our place. ^{[Romans 5:1; 8:1]} At times we may have nagging doubts as to whether we’ve been forgiven for a certain sin, but if we asked for forgiveness, we have received it. The Holy Spirit within us is proof that we are forgiven by God. 

            Job lost everything, yet still remained faithful to God: “Even if he kills me, I will hope in him.” ^{[Job 13:15]} It’s a similar thought that Peter had when some stopped following Jesus, and the Lord asked if the disciples would leave too. Simon Peter replied “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].” Always remember, we’re imperfect and God knows that. Seek forgiveness and you shall receive it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

God is righteous and just, but no matter how fair he is, there are and will always be those who find belief in God stifling. Those who criticize God and/or Christianity do so either because of a poor upbringing by unusually strict God-fearing parents or they are simply ignorant of the core beliefs, not to mention their probable lack of intimate relationship with Christ. The enemy can be very persuasive when it comes to tempting folks to turn away from God and go their own way, which invariably leads to sinful doings that lead them far from the path they may have started on.

The mantra of many both the unsaved and once-saved person is “I think it’s okay for people to do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t harm or bother anyone else. You know, live and let live.” Their determination to live their own life with any “religious” restrictions or affiliations is what develops into closed mindedness. Falling away from one’s faith could be referred to as one’s ‘defection’ from their faith; the Bible calls it “apostasy” ^{[Matthew 24:10-12]}. I know a number of people who have renounced their faith and I weep for them because they have been tricked into believing their believes were a sham. We must pray not just for the unsaved, but also for the once saved, who have fallen away, for scripture says it will be worse for someone who knew the truth and turned away than someone who never knew.  ^{[2 Peter 2:20]}

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

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries          

Pay-back is Coming

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”- Psalm 73:25-26 ^NIV

            The author of this particular Psalm was someone by the name of Asaph, who was the leader of one of David’s Levitical* choirs. In this Psalm Asaph expresses his lack of understanding as to why the wicked prosper. However, when he entered God’s sanctuary this all became clear to him for it was then that he realized that one day justice will be meted out. 

            God has a plan and a way to doing things that seems very foreign to us at times. I believe it’s partially because we find it hard to wait for anything, let alone justice for a wrong done to us. It’s a matter of God’s timing. We want retribution NOW, but God says wait. He knows when the best time is to repay injustice. Take justice into your own hands and you will suffer the consequences associated with your actions.

            The banner text is Asaph acknowledging the greatness and wisdom of Almighty God. He reveals his lack of desire for the things of the world. In other words, God is all he desires above all else. He states that God is the only one who will defend him, giving him strength. 

            Luke 18:1 tells believers to “Pray and don’t lose heart.” Those who struggle with patience do not accept waiting for ‘the pay-back’ against wrongs done to them very easily. Seeing evil prosper goes against every moral and ethical fiber in our body. But God shall right wrongs when the time is right, so don’t lose hope. All things take place according to God’s will and plan. Trust God; trust his plan. All shall take place when it is best for them to take place. Keep your faith intact. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*The Levites were Israelites from the tribe of Levi. This tribe was chosen by God to care for the temple and guide the people in worshiping God. The temple priests were all descendants of Aaron, who was a Levite.