Thoughts from a Random Mind

Knowing God as I do there is always an overriding sense of hope that exists. It’s in the air, permeating the stench of sin. My questions regarding the ‘why’ of things fades with time because I know there is a grand plan in play that has been in existence since the dawn of time. Not being able to explain things does not negate the truth that has been established by God from the beginning. God never changes and neither does his word. I stand on it for the rock that it is for his word is the ‘yay & amen’, the constant that feeds our soul. Nothing can compare to the Word of God. I except it at face value and allow it to guide my life. When the dust settles at the end of each day I know and understand my value …  not in this world, but in the world to come. To God we are priceless. Nothing can compare to the unchanging, never-ending love & grace of our Lord. Our questions shall never cease; however, the answers will become less and less important to us the closer to we come to God. The dark clouds that surround us all at this time shall dissipate gradually until there will no longer be an evil presence in existence. Take heart my friends, Christ is coming, and he is bringing the wrath of God with him to conquer all evil. It’s the conclusion of life as we know it that shall finally come … and it’s not a matter of if, but rather when, for nothing can stop what’s coming. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Last night I believe the Lord allowed me to feel the heaviness his heart feels regarding all that is transpiring in the world at this time. The rampant sin without question breaks his heart. The unnecessary loss of life grieves him. I felt a great heaviness in my spirit and in my heart. I reflected on all the gross sin that is taking place worldwide with all the corruption, lies, crimes against humanity and needless death and became despondent. It isn’t God’s will for this to take place, but the free will that man has been afforded has unfortunately led to this. God is not surprised by all this, but I believe it hurts his heart all the same. I suppose it would be somewhat like how a loving parent feels when one of their children becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. I never experienced that myself, but sometimes you don’t have to experience something to be able to have empathy. May God’s mercy flood our planet in such a way that millions of folks turn from their evil ways and embrace the gospel of Christ and in so doing have a fresh start at really living. Amen.

As always, till next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Looking at the Future

Revelation 21:1-8 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’

And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 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.’”

         While it is true that God wishes NONE to perish and be cast from his sight, sadly there will be those as described in the Book of Revelation that will reject God & the salvation he offers. We are to pray for our enemies and those who would persecute us. Having said that, rest assured that revenge is for the Lord to dole out and it will be administered in no small measure. Evil may be all around us, but the Holy Spirit shall protect us. Have faith and trust in God for his will shall come to fruition in the appointed time.

            I know there are many of you who may be questioning God with regards to why certain events have been allowed to take place in the world lately. My wife and I discussed this briefly the other evening. I’ve walked with the Lord since 1979 and I still don’t understand why God allows certain things to take place. My capacity to understand is infinitesimal compared to our Lords, which would explain my questions that appear to have no answers. Perhaps many of you feel the same way.

I have walked with God for too long and trusted him in all kinds of situations to turn my back on him now when I have serious questions regarding the “why” of things. I trust though I do not understand, because we are not asked to understand, only to trust. I’ve known folks who have turned their back on God due to their lack of understanding as to why certain things in the world have taken place. Like why some are killed unjustly, and others live to a ripe old age despite their sin. Like why infants contract deadly diseases and die without having a chance to live. Life is filled with far too many questions and we would spend the rest of our earthly lives seeking answers that cannot be found. The answers are in the mind of God. You either trust him or you do not. I do. How about you? Are you willing to serve a God who doesn’t explain his every action to you? You’ll have to or not bother believing in God at all. I apologize if that sounds harsh, I don’t mean it to, but frankly, if I understand anything about our Creator, he owes none of us any explanation as to what happens this side of heaven. This has been a little bit of a ramble, but I’m sorting thru some things in my own mind and thought you might benefit from it somehow. Anyway, my faith is strong, and my trust is unshakable. Trusting without understanding can be difficult, but only if you let it be. I am confident that all will make sense in the end. However, things will transpire as God wills it whether I believe or accept it or not. As the saying goes: “Time waits for no man.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Actually, the entire quote goes like this: “The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” - Alice Morse Earle (1851-1911) [American Historian & Author]

The Comparison

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

          Those in society who deem themselves good find themselves setting a standard to live by that is solely devised by themselves. They feel they have a firm grasp regarding what is good and what is evil and act according to those standards which they themselves have set. They never consider God, but rather feel no need to due to the supposed logical nature of their thinking. How could they possibly be wrong in their assessment? It makes sense to them and is something that they can live by without breaking a sweat. It is mind boggling how people can conjure up all sorts of ways to work their way to heaven in their own minds. They feel no need to trouble themselves with the untidy details of the crucifixion or the resurrection. That is for the weak minded. They believe in God; they just don’t feel the need a crutch to survive like some. Measuring ourselves by ourselves is like sailing close to a rocky shoreline at night without the aid of a lighthouse. They cannot see the reality of their danger without first surrendering their will. Only then do the blinders come off.

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

 

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

 

Rom 3:12b "… there is no one who does good, not even one."

 

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

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

Who Does God Use?

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

 

          There are those in this life who consider themselves wise, yet their wisdom pales in comparison to the wisdom of the One who made them. Others spend countless hours in fitness centers pumping iron to get strong only to strut their stuff in public as a means of showing off their newfound muscles. Their so-called strength is nothing compared to the power of Almighty God. God has chosen to use the things considered weak and foolish to advance the kingdom. He has chosen to use those that society has cast off as less desirable to proclaim His goodness. Perhaps it is because they are the most pliable, the most easily molded into what He seeks to use. Those who see themselves as wise or strong do so to their own discredit. Their conceit is their undoing. They take credit for things that they haven’t done and therefore diminish the role of God. God shares His glory with no one ^{(Isaiah 48:8 & 11)}. 

          It should be made clear that we are not talking about literal fools and weaklings, but rather those that are perceived by society to be so. God can use what and whom He so chooses to get a point across. Humbleness and humility are two traits’ Christians are to have. Those who think themselves wise or strong are hardly who God is looking for to complete His mission, for their wisdom and strength are self-proclaimed and therefore of little use to Him. It is the meek, the humble, the passed over who God delights in using. They think little of themselves and doubt their own abilities regularly. God can lift them up and speak through them. Moses was a murderer with a speech impediment, David was an adulterer and also a murderer, Noah was a drunk, Jacob was a liar, Rehab was a prostitute, Jonah ran from God, Peter had a quick temper – they have one thing in common: they were all used mightily by God. 

          As already stated, God shares His glory with no one. Those whom He chooses to use are flawed, fault filled people who, as a result, seek no glory for themselves. They seem to understand who God is in the grand scheme of things and realize that they are incapable of anything without His guidance and assistance. We need to be humble. It’s truly an honor to be used by God. He could have chosen anyone in creation, and He has chosen you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

 

Word for the Day

 

Like Father, Like Son

John 5:19 “Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’”

            This verse doesn’t reveal an inability in Christ, but rather is emphasizing the total unity of purpose and action of the Trinity. The very thing the Pharisees accused Jesus of was in reality what he was saying he was … God’s own Son. Being one with the Father enabled him to exhibit his Father’s characteristics and actions. In effect, Jesus is representing himself as the perfect Semitic son in that they are to emulate their father’s thoughts and actions.

As with Jehovah God, there is nothing Jesus cannot do. He was and is able to do things with the same power and authority as the Father. If Jesus did things apart from the Father that would make him autonomous or independent of any outside influences, namely God. Jesus voluntarily and willingly followed his Father’s example.

Jesus is unique in several areas; he has an uncommon sensitivity to God’s voice in that it was and is not affected by sin. He is also unique because he is God’s One and Only Son. It should be obvious that his uniqueness is capped by the fact that he alone can cleanse us of all our sin because his blood was spotless. No one else could ever say this.

It requires faith & trust to believe all this, but that is the nature of Christianity. Believing that which cannot be seen as if it can be. Once you reach that point your trust needs to allow you to live according to God’s life-giving standards. It can take courage without fear to accomplish this; that is what the Holy Spirit is there for. To guide and direct us all into godly living. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: Reformation Study Bible; https://www.gills-exposition-of-the-bible/.

 

 

 

 

 

Listening vs. Hearing

James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  

         In this world there are listeners and hearers. A person can listen to someone speak all day long but not hear a thing. What is being said becomes nothing more than a clanging cymbal as the message goes unheard.  Many a glowing sermon has been preached that has never been heard because of a sense of indifference.  To some just being in church seems to matter more than actually receiving any spiritual food.  We should be sponges, soaking up any spiritual knowledge we can, for to know Him is to trust Him and to trust Him will bring us to a place where worry less allowing blessings to flow more freely.

         We deceive ourselves into thinking we are okay with God just because we attend services, but all the services in the world will not change our heart or our mindset.  God is extremely patient with us, but don’t mistake His patience as a sign of weakness.  His patience is borne out of love for us, plus an understanding that we are frail and even on our best day will not measure up to His standards.  That is where His mercy and grace kicks in.  

We cannot live a life that is pleasing to God unless we follow the standard He’s set forth in scripture. In our imperfection we come to realize that our Lord’s patience allows for many mistakes as long as we are sincerely trying to please Him with our lives. Those things said to us will actually begin to be heard and if we let them, they will revolutionize our walk with God.  Listen, but also hear all that we are told from scripture that we may be a blessing to God and others.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

One Drop Does It All

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  

         God gave up His only Son for our sin, the ultimate sacrifice, the worthy for the unworthy.  The incredible thing about it is that one drop of Christ’s blood cleanses all sin.  The pure and spotless Lamb of God laid down His own life for all of mankind.  What an unbelievable event in the annals of time.  Knowing we were worthy of being cast into hell’s lake of fire for all eternity God willingly offered His Son to not just cover but erase our transgressions for all time. Still, even with this amazing truth available men choose not to believe it.  That fact alone is testament to the notion that mankind is incapable of reasoning out rational scenarios.  We fight for our right to live as we choose never being able to see the big picture.  God isn’t trying to trick man into serving Him.  He is freely offering us a pardon.  He is offering to remove the death sentence we were born with and replace it with eternal life.  The only catch is we must ask for it and as with any gift, receive it.

          The “things” Paul is speaking of here are not whatever we desire, but rather all the things we need in this life to survive.  God has promised to provide for and sustain us throughout this life if we will allow Him to.  So many Christians give their lives to the Lord and then take it back only to struggle with things they shouldn’t have to wrestle with.   God is faithful and more than worthy of all praise.  He has provided a way to escape our just punishment and will provide a life filled with blessings if we allow Him to.  Surrender your will over to your loving Heavenly Father.  You will not be cheated.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

A Matter of Trust

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”  

            David confidently declares that God is his source of help, relief, and comfort in times of trouble. He also says that God is his protector.  Knowing what we know about the Lord, we can stand with David and confidently boast the same.  Furthermore, our hope is in God as well and by extension, His word.  When a person doesn’t have hope, it can be a devastating feeling.  Just knowing that God is ever present and has your best interests at heart should bring hope even in the direst of circumstances.  He knows what He’s doing.  What you are going through is by design to teach you something of spiritual significance.  Moping and being depressed, while a natural response for most of us, is counterproductive.  We know that in our heart but getting our head to cooperate with our heart sometimes can be difficult.  Our Lord is patient with us.  He understands our hesitancy and works in us, if we allow Him to, to bring about spiritual growth.  It’s all a matter of trust.

          Scripture tells us faith without works is dead ^{(James 2:17)}.  I say to you, faith without trust is equally dead.  We must develop an unwavering trust in God to fully realize all He has for us.  He knows who we were meant to be, and He wants us to reach our fullest potential.  I’m not speaking of worldly potential, but rather spiritual potential.  The Lord knows what we’re capable of.  God’s word can instruct us, and His spirit can take us to the lofty heights He has ordained for us.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Faith Replaces the Law

 

Galatians 3:23-25 “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So, the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” 

 

          The Galatians had fallen back into living by the Law of Moses and not by the faith they had originally embraced. Paul is not overly pleased with them. In the beginning of chapter three he first calls them “foolish”, then asks them who had “bewitched” them into clinging once again to the Law over faith. Paul likens living under the Law as being held in custody of a guardian. This was necessary in God’s economy until faith in Christ was introduced to man. ^{(As a side note, when I refer to God’s economy, I am referring to anything and everything that falls under the control of Almighty God, which would happen to be all of creation.)}

          Justification came in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, lived among us and died a criminal’s death in our place. That death erased our sins, not just covered them as the Old Testament blood sacrifices did each year. Christ’s death cleansed us once for all time. Do we still sin? Yes! Is forgiveness still available to the contrite heart? Yes!! Are we living under the guardianship of the Mosaic Law? No, we are not. Christ’s death freed us from the Law forever. This is seen in the tearing of the veil that separates the Holy of Holies from the Most Holy Place in the Jewish Temple ^{(Matthew 27:51)}. That represented our open access to God. No longer were we required to go through a High Priest, but rather could approach God ourselves due to the death of Christ on Calvary’s cross. We are now able to have a personal relationship with God directly. This fact may mean more to a Jew who receives Christ as their Messiah, then a gentile who never had the Law to live by, however, we can still embrace this gift of freedom by making ourselves aware of what the Jews were required to do previously. Many Jews still live by the Mosaic Law to this day, not realizing that their Messiah had come. 

          A relationship with God, which may have once seemed impossible, was made possible by a single death. God dwelling within us in the form of His Holy Spirit, made possible by a single act of love. Christ’s death on a wooden cross shall stand for all time as the most selfless act of love and mercy known to man and yet millions reject that act each day. There is no other hope of redemption. Without forgiveness, sin goes unpaid, and all hope vanishes. Living for God gives life, freedom, and hope for all our tomorrows. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Death of Lazarus

John 11:25 - “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?” 
          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 says 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’s doing and always knows what is best. The word ‘always’ is an absolute word. It means that God knows each and every time, making no mistakes. 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 must do is believe in Christ; however, it’s a little more detailed than that for even the devil and his demons believe in Jesus and shudder in terror at the mention of His name. ^{(James 2:19)} 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, will turn to dust in the ground, but our soul and spirit shall live on 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’s doing; therefore, we can absolutely and positively trust Him in all things all the time. Do you believe this? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Having a Humble Spirit

Psalm 149:4 “For the Lord takes delight in his people; He crowns the humble with victory.”

 

          Arrogance* is an unattractive characteristic that many people display. They think they are above it all and see themselves as superior in either intellect or economic status (or both). They do not mingle with those they deem lesser then themselves by choice. Because of arrogance, people become judge and jury over the socioeconomic status of all who are around them. They determine who is worthy of their association and who is not. It is an unseemly trait that is all too common in society today. God doesn’t honor such an attitude, nor does it please Him. Seeing themselves as higher than most of society, they wouldn’t waste their time believing in an unseen god, since they would see no need for him. That is frighteningly sad, for their own attitude is the affliction that will take them down. They cannot see that their thoughts, words, and deeds are self-centered. They have reached the pinnacle of self-absorption and yet are unaware that from this lofty position can come a mighty fall and it will come. Why are people like this? Is it insecurity? Is it being spoiled at a young age? Is it a borderline mental illness? Perhaps a little of all that, but nonetheless, it is displeasing to the Lord and needs to be purged.

          A humble* spirit is quite the opposite. Humble folks are not at all arrogant, but rather submissive to another, in the Christian’s case, God. The humble person seeks to please and places others before themselves. Since faith is required to please God ^{(Hebrews 11:6)}, we must first believe and place our trust in the unseen deity, namely, Almighty God. Once we learn how to live for Christ, we slowly develop a spirit of humbleness and humility. 

Arrogant people view those that are humble as weak and on occasion will take advantage of them. Arrogance doesn’t consider the feelings of anyone but themselves, while those that are humble consider the feelings of others before themselves. It is the humble individual who pleases God and not the arrogant for it is not all about ME, but rather about God and others. If we believe that God provides and sustains those whom He loves, then we should have no concerns and submission ought to come fairly easy. The arrogant person believes that he alone provides and sustains for himself without any outside assistance. What a shock they will receive on the last day when they will be required to bow before Almighty God and profess Him as Lord. Do for others with a spirit of humbleness and humility and God will crown you with victory. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

*ar•ro•gant 1: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner; 2: showing an offensive attitude of superiority: proceeding from or characterized by arrogance.

*hum•ble 1: not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive; 2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission. 

Be Steadfast

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” 

 

     In a world that is filled with chaos, we read these comforting words. Because we have placed our faith in God, it stands to reason that we will trust Him as well. If we trust God, then we can be at peace. Why, you may ask? God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our tendencies and in knowing that God knows that we are prone to worry about things that we can either do nothing about or won’t even happen. Steadfast is to firmly fix something in place; therefore, if we firmly fix our minds on the Lord and His Word, He shall keep us at peace. Nothing can come against us that is not either caused or allowed by God. So, if He is in control of everything in creation, He must be in control of all the things that affect us. The logical conclusion to all this is to stay close to the Lord and allow His Holy Spirit to minister to our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits so that we remain at peace in all situations. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

What is Your Worth?

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

 

          What do you think you’re worth? Did you know you’re of incalculable worth to the God who created you? Think about how insignificant five sparrows would be. Let’s take a brief look at the sparrow. There are five species of sparrow in the world today. The largest species group is referred to as True Sparrows. There are 27 different types of True Sparrows flitting about the earth. Sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. The different species can weigh anywhere from a 1/2 oz to 1-1/2 ozs. Sparrows, which are primarily seed eating birds, have an extra bone in their tongues to help stiffen it giving them the innate ability to hold their seed firmly in their mouth.

          The first thing that could be said is regarding the intricacy of the bird’s skeletal structure, especially the extra bone in its tongue to aid in eating. Do you seriously think that just happened? I choose to believe that it was by grand design and the designer was Almighty God.

          It’s like the mustard seed, which was said to be the tiniest seed in Bible times. It is the perfect example for the amount of faith that is required to believe, just as one of the tiniest birds is a perfect example of one’s value or worth. If God, in all His power and wisdom, values the sparrow and doesn’t neglect them in any way, how much more does He value you? Luke makes a good point in saying that every single hair on your head is numbered. He knows how many hairs you have on your head!! With that in mind I would venture to say that God also knows the number of grains of sand there are on the earth’s beaches. It is meant to show that God cares and not just in a casual way. He cares for you intimately. He cares about everything that matters to you. He loves you and wants you to know it. 

You may be down and out and have nothing positive going in your life, but God still loves you. If you seek His face and trust in Him, He will never fail you. We have nothing to fear. We are not worth more to God than one sparrow, but rather many sparrows. If He takes good care of the little birds of creation, He will most assuredly take good care of you, but you must have faith - you must believe. You must place your complete trust in Him. It is easier if you know Him and to know Him comes from reading the Bible. In it we find promises of His never-ending love and the fact that He will never leave or forsake us. God cares deeply for you as an individual. Never forget that. Call out to Him regardless of your situation. He’s there waiting to hear from you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Stand Firm in Your Faith

2 Thessalonians 2:13b-15 “…God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

            We live in perilous times, with Satanic activity all around us. Corruption has run amok within big business, social media and the government. True believers are under attack worldwide. But fear not, for their day is rapidly coming to an end. God has declared it to be so, and it shall be so when the time for their removal has come. We need not fear, but only stand firm in our faith and remain prepared. There are those who have rejected the loving forgiveness of the Lord in favor of other lies that are being presented as the truth. They’ve been given multiple chances to embrace freedom from sin and eternal life thru the Father but have turned away. I have told you in the past that God sends no one to hell, they send themselves by their own decision to embrace a lie that seems much for palatable to them then the truth. No matter trials come your way, never think God has abandoned you. He knows all that is taking place and is allowing the guilty to continue sinning, so they have no excuse. 

                  Paul says in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica to stand firm and hold fast to the teachings that had been passed on to them. Nothing that has taken place in this world cannot be reversed. God is infinitely more powerful and Satan, who is a created being. Just when Satan thinks he has turned the tide against the truth, Christ will return and overpower the enemy with the mere power of his breath. It will be such an abrupt end to evil that it will be like a man boxing with one who is without arms.

                  We have nothing to fear, for God is in ultimate and total control of all things that transpire in this world. When you hear news that causes you to be concerned, lay those concerns at the feet of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. There is nothing that can be done to us of any lasting consequence. The enemy can take everything from us, but they cannot ever take our soul from us. We belong to God, now and forevermore. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God's Unfailing Love

Lamentations 3:31-32 “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

                   This is a tricky statement that implies that no matter what you’ve done God will not cast you out from his presence eternally. But that’s not true. To believe that you must make an assumption; that a loving God wouldn’t cast anyone out but make allowances as if all had a right to be with him in heaven. However, that assumption would have to ignore the fallen angels and unrepentant man. There are those who are presented with the gospel message repeatedly throughout their life and never embrace it as true. They choose to believe a lie that either there is no hell, no devil or that they are basically good people and God wouldn’t send good people out of his presence. The Bible makes it clear that there is a hell.^[1] In fact Jesus spoke more of hell ^{(aka - hades, Gehenna)} than anyone else in scripture.

                  It should be made clear that it brings no pleasure to the Lord to cast off anyone. Hell was created for Lucifer ^(Satan)and his fallen angels ^{(who then became demons)}, not man. But a person’s rejection of Christ and his forgiveness, plus God’s appointed standards for living voids man’s opportunity to go to heaven to live for all eternity with their Creator. This scripture in Lamentations shows us clearly that casting off someone out of his presence forever grieves him. To grieve is to “express great sorrow or distress. God’s plan has no place for those who turn away from his offer” ^[2].

                  He shows compassion towards man. Compassion is a “deep awareness of the suffering of another accompanied by the wish to relieve it.” ^[2] Scripture says we are but dust and to dust we shall return ^{[Genesis 3:19; Psalm 103:14]}. His love for us is great, unending and without conditions placed upon it, therefore, unless we completely reject God’s way of life, we will be with him after we pass on from this earth. Do not reject Almighty God. Shift your focus onto the scriptures and seek his face while he may be found, for someday it will be too late. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Luke 16:23; Matthew 11:23; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 5:22.

^[2] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Patience: A Byproduct of Wisdom

Proverbs 19:11“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

                  Solomon is said to be the wisest man to ever walk the earth. God gave him his wisdom because of his unselfish request; for the wisdom and knowledge to rule the people of Israel justly and without malice, with wisdom and discernment. ^{[1 Kings 3:1-15]} This so impressed the Lord that he gave him both what he asked for and the riches and material wealth he didn’t ask for. Solomon’s heart was after God. His words in the Book of Proverbs should be heeded because of his God given wisdom.

                  Patience is a godly trait that can be given in great measure if asked for. That is not to say that non-Christians can’t be patient, but believers in Christ often face a different type of trial or set of circumstances that will tear at the undercarriage of their faith if allowed. It’s at those times that we are to be as the prophet Isaiah declares: “Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” ^{[Isaiah 50:7]}. In this case Isaiah was speaking of the Messiah. Setting his face like flint means he will not shrink back from His mission, despite severe suffering, opposition, and humiliation. He also never held any offence against his perpetrators. 

Christ’s patience was impeccable and worthy of being emulated. In the face of many obstacles, we need to embrace the contemporary phrase; “Get on your knees and fight like a man.” It is thru prayer that mountains can be moved. The wise man will recognize that patience and not impudence is the route to take with those who would seek to incite you to say or do something unbecoming of a Christian. If you are lacking wisdom, seek it thru prayer. The Holy Spirit will dispense it as he wills to help us exhibit more Christ-like behavior. Patience thru wisdom is a key lesson for a believer to learn this side of heaven. God is in control and he absolutely knows what he’s doing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Proverbs 1:5 “…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…”.

Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

Proverbs 16:32 “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Believing with Your Heart

Romans 10:10-13 “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

“The heart in the Bible was thought to be a sort of "control center" from which all our decisions were made. So, when we read about the heart in the Bible, it is about the place where you have your will, your attitude, and intentions, and which is the source of your thoughts, actions, and words. This heart is the core of who you are as a person.” ^[1]

“To believe that the character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; - especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy.”- J. H. Newman. ^[2]

            I began this post with some clarification regarding our heart and belief. You see, it’s not simply believing as in giving mental acknowledgement to someone or something. Scripture is clear, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” ^{[James 2:19]} It isn’t in the believing that makes you saved, per se, it is believing and then acting on that belief. Anyone can simply believe in something or someone, but how has that belief changed your life? 

Our focus is supposed to be on Jesus Christ; his life, ministry, and subsequent death and what that all means to us personally. It should mean that a purchase has been made on our behalf. It should mean that purchase pay off our sin debt, which we had been accumulating our entire life. Do you understand what that means? It may not be until you watch a movie like Mel Gibson’s THE PASSION, which graphically depicts Christ’s crucifixion,  that what was done for you finally sinks in. It was preplanned and acted on solely for our benefit. So don’t say you are a Christian unless you truly know what it all entails and what is expected of you. 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26 that we are to pick up our cross (figuratively)

and follow him. He also asks a rather poignant question: “…what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” If you intend to swim you don’t go into the water up to your knees, you go in all the way.  If you tell people you are a Christian, be prepared to display your beliefs as a means of testifying to the world that belief. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

            

^[1] https://activechristianity.org/what-is-the-heart

^[2] John Henry Newman (February 21, 1801 to August 11, 1890) - was an English theologian, scholar, and poet, first an Anglican priest and later a Catholic priest and cardinal.

God's Forgiveness

Psalm 103:8-12 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

            Good and evil both exist in this world today, just as they did in the past. Ever since Lucifer (Satan) had been cast out of heaven he has been at odds with God. He is a trickster and liar to the nth degree. Sadly, I see a lot of parallels between the spirit world and the world we live in. Lies are pervasive. They come from unexpected sources. The tentacles of evil reach into places once thought to be pure and righteous. We are at war with the enemy of our souls, make no mistake about that. We will win, because we know God wins and as long as we are on the side of righteousness we are safe. But the battle is coming to us like never before. We must gird our loins with the gospel of truth and put on the rest of the armor of God. ^{[Ephesians 6:10-18]}

                  Our future is secure as long as we stay linked to the things of the Lord. These verses above make it very clear that if we renounce our sin and live for him our past sins will never be held against us. We serve a compassionate and gracious God who loves us with an everlasting love. Nothing can cause him to not love us. Of those who have done such heinous acts against humanity, there is still hope. The Lord doesn’t repay us according to what we have done. He doesn’t wish that any would be separated from him for all eternity. ^{[2 Peter 3:9]}

                  The statement “as far as the east is from the west” is symbolic. If it were not that there would be a limit to his forgiveness as calculated by that distance. It’s like when Jesus tells the disciplines to forgive 7 x 70 times. ^{[Matthew 18:22]} If that were literally true then you’d be required to forgive people 490 times and that’s all. It is symbolic, for forgiveness is to be offered without reservation or hesitation, just as God forgave you. 

Rejoice, for if you are covered in the blood of Christ you are forgiven for all eternity and those sins shall never be held against you ever again. That, my friends, is very good news. Trust God and live for him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Our Protector

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

          Chapter 119 of Psalms is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. In the 114th verse above we find four words that stand out: 1) refuge, 2) shield, 3) hope and 4) word. The Psalmist is declaring first that God is his own personal refuge. What is a refuge? A refuge is a fortress of sorts, a safe haven, a shelter from danger. Not only has the writer stated this, but also that God is his shield. This is typically a piece of armor that is used to protect the combatant. So, the first portion of the verse deals with protection. Since there is nothing God is incapable of (Matthew 19:26; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:17, 27 & Luke 1:37), I can think of no better protector then Him. 

           The Psalmist states clearly that he has put his hope in the word of God. What is hope? It is a strong desire with anticipation. Hope is born out of faith and trust. If we have faith, we believe in things unseen as if they can be seen. If we have trust, we have an assurance that we can rely on that thing or person we have placed our faith in. It is with that in mind that we have hope. When we place our hope in the Bible, we are placing our hope in all the statutes and promises that are within its covers. By stating that he puts his hope in God’s word, the Psalmist is in fact also stating that he has faith in Almighty God and through trust is relying on Him to make all things as they should be. God knows all things and can bring about His perfect will for each one of us. His plans for us are for success and His timing is impeccable. There is nothing we cannot do if we rely on God fully. He can open closed doors, provide sustenance where there is none, bring hope to the despondent. God is our protector and our helper in the most desperate of times. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

Dying to Truly Live

1 Peter 2:24 - “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

            This is referred to by some as “substitutionary atonement”.  Blood is required by God to expunge one’s sin. It’s simply the way he set his sacrificial system up. He foreknew that man would sin against his laws so he had prearranged from the beginning of time that the second person of the Trinity, his Son Jesus Christ, would come to earth as a baby. Jesus would be raised by hand picked parents. Jesus knew he was God’s Son and also knew what would eventually be required of him. This is alluded to in 1 Timothy 1:15 - ^“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.”

                  Far too many people believe in Christ and in Father God, but don’t allow that knowledge to impact their lives in a personally intimate way. We are not talking about ‘religion’, we are talking about a ‘personal relationship’ … ‘a way of life’that is diametrically opposed to the world in which we live. Scripture cautions us not to walk with one foot in the spirit and one in the world. You will compromise your walk for Christ.

                  I’m going to go out on a limb and say that while our wounds ‘have been’ healed, that statement applies to members of God’s family and / or those outside the family that believers stand in the gap for in prayer as a means of bringing them to the edge of the ledge regarding the reality of their sin. Sin must be shown to us so we can understand that it is wrong. We also need to grasp the fact that we cannot pay for it ourselves. It is a humbling and terrifying experience. But in our understanding, we need to accept that Christ pay that sin debt for us so we wouldn’t have to suffer the punishment we rightfully deserve. It is only in dying that we can truly live. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries