God in the Midst of Tragedy

Note: I didn’t care for the direction the previous guest’s devos was heading, so I scrubbed the final 2 in favor of the following:  God in the Midst of Tragedy. It was written on November 30^th, 2000 by Reverend Henry T. Blackaby of Blackaby International Ministries. 

 

“In the midst of tragedies, every promise of God is still true. Tragedy does not remove God or change God. He remains ^{(Hebrews 13:8)}. When God says, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,’ ^{(Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5)}, He means this, and He never changes. Such promises of God are for such times as tragedy.

Some feel that if God is really a God of Love, He would not permit any tragedies. Not so! Sin causes tragedy. Sin is real and brings death ^{(Romans 6:23)}. In the midst of all sin does to disrupt and destroy life as God intended, He has provided a way for dealing with sin and its consequences. His own presence through the death, resurrection and ascension of His Son has provided totally. His Grace is sufficient, always ^{(2 Corinthians 12:9)}.

The Apostle Paul, out of the depth of His life experiences, could boldly proclaim: ‘Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.’ ^{(Romans 5:20b)}. Paul also knew the incredible effect of sin on all creation, so that through nature death and destruction could prevail: ‘For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now’ ^{(Romans 8:22)}. We are experiencing the awesome reality of this all over the world in our day.

To leave the reality of sin, and its effects, out of our reasoning in the midst of tragedies would be foolish. It also would distort the Truth of God, creating confusion and unnecessary pain and suffering. God remains prefect love in the midst of tragedy, and His presence can and will transform everything –- if we let Him.

As a pastor, I’ve seen God’s presence and truths set people free and transform entire situations. We have been experiencing many tragedies in recent months. We need to choose to believe God and let Him affect us –- in His perfect love! We must not let the world bring their claims against God or put us into their mold of thinking about God in the midst of tragedies. We are not intimidated by the world’s lack of knowledge about God. We have been given the Truth by God, in His Word, and we must share His Truth with our world boldly and confidently.”

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

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://blackaby.org/where-is-god-in-the-midst-of-tragedies/

Thoughts from a Random Mind

         Have you ever been so frazzled and frustrated that you thought you’d explode? That’s me tonight. Certain circumstances are out of my control and that combined with all that is going on in the country has caused me to be uncharacteristically ready to blow. What does one do when they feel that way? I pray. I try my best to shift my focus back to the Lord and off all the fiery darts the enemy is throwing my way. I remind myself that God is always supremely in control, and nothing will come my way that I cannot handle. He knows what I can take. The enemy wants me to believe I can’t take a whole lot, but God knows best and since he made me and knows me better than anyone else, I guess he should.

            Thoughtless, ignorant people cause me to simmer. They bring out the absolute worst in me. It is at those precise moments that the Holy Spirit reminds me who I am and whose I am. I need constant reminders because I am human and show it quite often. Oh my gosh, especially when I’m driving. My potty mouth resurfaces, which I am not at all proud to admit. It doesn’t happen in public; under my breath, to myself. I am my own worst enemy and Satan feeds off that at the worst possible moments. There are times when I am truly amazed that God loves me at all, but I’m comparing his love to the flawed, earthly love that exists in the world. His love is perfect and never-ending. Believe me, I am super grateful for that. Where our understanding ends is where God begins. 

            Lord, thank you for the patience, mercy, compassion, understanding and love you have for us all. You make this life worth living, trials and all. 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

Why God Allows Suffering - Part 3

It Reminds Us of the Reality of Sin

“Each of us knows firsthand what it means to suffer as a result of someone else’s sin. We have all been the victims of the evil choices of others. Evil words and actions have left great marks on our hearts, minds, and bodies. Because of this, some people will get angry with God, believing He did nothing to stop the sin that unfolded. Yet, none of us is innocent. We too have played the role of sinner, harming others with the choices we make. Sin lurks at each of our doors. We, like Cain must battle our fear, insecurity, shame, resentment, and anger. Failing to recognize or master these things often creates suffering for others.”

Since scripture instructs us to treat others as greater than ourselves, aka, selfless living, it stands to reason that sin should be far from us. But when an individual sins against us we have no control over that. That is when our hurt needs to be overcome by grace and forgiveness. When that event takes place trust in that individual will most likely be hard to come by, however, grace always wins out. 

Luke 6:31 states: “Treat others just as you want to be treated.” Being human, our strong tendency is to treat others the way they treat you. While that is humanly understandable, the world will see no difference between you and the rest of the world. It’s when you live as an imitation of Christ in the midst of your peers that your life will get noticed. Be different than others in this hardened, sin sick world. Overlook the sins of others that have a negative effect on you and / or those you love and pray for them to see the error of their ways. Show them love and forgiveness just as God showed you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Footnote: Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.   

 

Buckle Up ...

Here's a heads up ... there is a threat of a major cyber attack coming sometime over the next several days. Nothing to be afraid of ... God is still in control. The US may lose internet access, cell phone service and power. This is all speculative. Nothing at all may happen. Just using this forum to send out a warning to be prepared and don't panic. Pray for protection and a spirit of calmness. God always wins in the end. Trust the Lord. I love you all ... may God richly bless you and your families.

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

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Why God Allows Suffering - Part 2

To See the Magnitude of His Love

“When we think of suffering, we often think of God being far away from us. Yet, God will carry us through some of the darkest seasons of our lives to show His incredible love for us. Sometimes the emotional or physical pain of suffering is prolonged. It can continue for weeks, months, even years. This pain can be intense. We may hurt so badly that even those who try to bring comfort feel the pain. If you’re going through a tough time, take heart. The Lord is sovereign, and He controls all adversity in our lives. That’s why it’s imperative that when we are going through a time of trial and suffering that we remember how much God loves us. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering and loss, then He has something good He wants us to accomplish.”

In the face of tragedy, it may be hard to accept and understand how great God’s love is for us. Great love doesn’t equal a perfect existence in this life. We will have a perfect existence in heaven; however, the world in which we currently live is overrun with sin. Before you blame Eve for the origin of sin, can you honestly say you wouldn’t make the same choice she made if you were in her situation? No, you can’t say that, so accept the fact that sin exists and know that God allows it because of the free will he gave each one of us. Instead of complaining that your prayers aren’t being answers, why not ask what God is trying to teach you? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Footnote: Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.   

Why God Allows Suffering?

Suffering is complex, but it doesn’t mean God is far away from us.

Ms. Lesli White gives us 5 reasons why she believes that God allows Christians to suffer. Over the next five days I will share her thoughts in an effort for both you and I to learn more about this difficult subject. 

            “Suffering can show up in many ways. The Bible doesn’t diminish our experience of suffering. Instead, it recognizes the complexity of suffering and how it comes upon us. Scripture tells us, ‘We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed’^{(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)}. In these verses, Paul is referring to multiple types of suffering – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. What makes this experience complex is the fact that when suffering comes, several of these types of suffering are often involved which can take a major toll on our spirit. It’s important that we recognize that suffering is a battleground. The book of Job offers great insight on the two ways we can choose to respond to suffering. One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering.”

            Ms. White has some good thoughts here which can be applied to the saved and the unsaved. A tragedy can possibly drive the unsaved into the arms of God. Conversely, that same tragedy can cause a believer to renounce his or her faith in God. No one ever said life was easy and just because we are children of God doesn’t mean life automatically becomes a cake walk. Suffering can be viewed as a spiritual field of battle. Satan, whose very name means “adversary or one who resists”, was given that name by God because his rebellion against the Lord in the heavenlies made him God’s eternal adversary, with no hope of redemption. Satan breeds angst and suffering and wishes to drag God’s children thru the sewers of life if at all possible. We must stand tall in our faith and not allow tragic circumstances to drive a wedge between us and our Heavenly Father. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Footnote: Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.   

Thoughts from a Random Mind

With all the chaos, killing and destruction being done worldwide, many are questioning why God would allow this.  And that is the proper word to use ... "allow"... because while God causes and / or all things, you can be sure that because of his very nature he has not caused all this. 

I’d like to share with you a question posed to the late Billy Graham and his answer. Perhaps it may shed some light on the subject.

 

Q: “A close friend of mine just told me she has incurable cancer. Why would God do this to her? I don't know anyone who is kinder or more thoughtful. It's really hit me, and it just doesn't seem fair.”

 

A: “No, it doesn’t seem fair; much of what goes on in the world isn’t fair or good or happy. Centuries ago, Job (who knew what it meant to experience suffering that just didn’t seem to make sense) penned these words: ‘Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward’ (Job 5:7).

Nor are tragedies like the one your friend is experiencing understandable—not completely, and not this side of eternity. I suppose I’ve asked myself thousands of times why God permits terrible things like this to happen, and I don’t know the answer—not fully. We live in a fallen, imperfect world that has been corrupted by sin, and we all share in its brokenness. But we still wonder why bad things happen—although we know God is still in control, even if evil sometimes seems to be winning.

When bad things happen, however, we can do one of two things: we can either be angry with God, or we can turn to Him in trust and faith. But anger only leaves us bitter and hopeless. May you and your friend turn instead to Christ and find in Him the comfort and strength you need.

Remember: by His death and resurrection Christ conquered death, and now He offers the gift of salvation to all who put their trust in Him. May the Psalmist’s words become yours: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. … and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:4, 6). Put your trust in Jesus Christ today.”

 

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

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Follow God's Example

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

         Last Thursday (Sept 9) I wrote a devotional entitled “God is Love” where I spoke of replacing the word ‘love’ with ‘God’ in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. I said this because the attributes of ‘love’ are the same attributes seen in God himself. Our text for this devotional speaks of “walking in the way of love”. Paul, the writer of Ephesians encourages his readers to “follow God’s example”. God’s love was in full display when Christ took the beating and allowed himself to be nailed to a cross. THAT is love. 

                  Now we aren’t being asked to do all that, but instead are being asked to exemplify love in the following manner:  be patient one with another, be kind, be trusting, be protective, be filled with hope and never stop persevering in love. Conversely, we are not to be self-seeking or easily angered. Never keep a count of wrongs. Do not be envious of others or boastful and proud in an unseemly way.

                  I know I speak a lot about imitating Christ. I do so because it is extremely important to your personal witness to BE Christ to others, rather than simply talk about him. I don’t know about you, but I readily admit I need constant reminders that it’s NOT all about ME.  That leading with actions and following with words (if necessary) is far more effective than the reverse. It is my humble opinion that we cannot read or hear about what Christ went thru for us too often, lest we forget. We are loved far greater than we could ever imagine and more than we deserve, but remember, God looks upon the heart and not external things like we do. We are blessed because of what God did for us. We are blessed because God has chosen to bless us. Always remember, we aren’t blessed by God simply so we are blessed, but so we can be a blessing to others. Embrace this truth and continue to strive to BE Christ to those around you who are outside the family. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” 

            James 3:13-18 speaks of two kinds of wisdom, although I personally hesitate to refer to the second type ‘wisdom’ at all. If you have a bitter, envious, selfish attitude, it didn’t come from the Lord, but rather his evil counterpart, Satan. With envy and selfish ambition comes nothing of a positive or godly nature. These negative attributes produce chaos and disorder in due time. Sadly, even those who call themselves Christians can be prone to this type of attitude. 

            The way to combat these attitudes is to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit within you (if you are a ‘true’ believer in Christ). Emulating Christ is paramount for the believer. Without his example how would we fully know how to live a godly life. Studying scripture will take you far, but it is easier for some (me being one) who learn better by seeing a lesson, even if it happens to be in our mind’s eye. Illustrations are plentiful in scripture and help us to know how to live as well. 

            Real and not fake humility is pretty easy to spot. Doing godly deeds without making a show of it is being humble. Making sure those around you know who you are and what you are doing is not. In Matthew 6:3 Jesus announces the following: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,…”. It’s absolutely NOT important if ANYONE knows what you are doing for another. Deeds done in humility is placing others before yourself. 

            Though not created for man, the Lake of Fire will be filled with those who professed to be followers of Christ yet didn’t live for him. That is trampling on God’s grace. It’s like taking a wonderful gift from someone, setting it aside and never opening it. In some cases, not even thanking the person for it. Follow God’s standards daily as you seek to resemble Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Value Others Over Yourself

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” 

         Paul knew that the two greatest enemies to unification among God’s people is “selfish ambition and / or conceit”. These characteristics are self-centered, which is the opposite of what is being stated.  When someone “looks out for number one”, that is un-Christlike and displeasing to our Lord. That type of person may outwardly believe in congregational unity, but his actions speak far louder than his words. Selfish people tend to gather a group around themselves to promote their own interests. That can be a recipe that could produce seeds of contention and strife. Steer clear of all of that.

                  Being selfless is a totally foreign concept to the human mind. We cannot imitate Christ on our own … it’s not possible. It’s only when a believer allows the indwelt Holy Spirit to empower us that we can begin to resemble the Lord in words and actions. 

                  I would venture to say that we all have quite a number of people around us that know us pretty well. I think it’s safe to say that they would notice if your behavior changed significantly. Valuing others about your own interests is supposed to be a primary function of the true believer.

It’s not easy to sidestep your own interests in favor of the interests of others, but it is something we need to work on because it is how God wishes us to behave. We must seek these things from the Lord and adhere to that which the Holy Spirit reveals to us. Selfless behavior is a product of a humble spirit. Humility was modeled by Jesus especially when he went before Pontius Pilate, was beaten and nailed to a wooden cross. He didn’t fight back but knowing the importance of this actions that led to his death, he willingly allowed his life to be taken from him so that all of mankind could be forgiven of their sin. That was selfless humility on full display. Imitate that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Believer’s Bible Commentary

ARE THERE PHARISEES AMONG US?

Matthew 23:1-3 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So, you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.’”  

Are Christians today like the Pharisees of Jesus day? Perhaps in the one instance: they do not practice what they preach.  Talk is cheap.  Show unbelievers your faith by the way you live, and I believe it will have a far greater impact than anything we could ever say to them. Christians become comfortable in their own little personal bubble.  They know and love the Lord yet struggle with the concept of self-analyses.   They’re doing just fine thank you very much and don’t appreciate someone coming along and telling them any different. It’s my feeling that a Christian’s spiritual journey should be in a constant state of flux, never staying the same, always changing for the better.  What good are we to anyone if we stagnate?

It is vitally important that we live out what we believe so the world can see the change that has taken place in our lives; especially those closest to us.  Our changed life should speak loudly to those we spend most of our time with.  Accompanied by a humble spirit, a changed life can speak volumes to those who are seeking.

Jesus didn’t suffer a brutal, torturous death so we could be comfortable.  He did so to bring about change.  Those who have truly repented of their past life and all the sin that had weighed them down are supposed to do a 180 and walk away from that which entangled them prior to their conversion.  To receive forgiveness yet allow no alterations to be made to our inner man makes God’s grace into a cheap thing.  This should not be.  Allow the Holy Spirit to make the changes necessary to become all God intended us to be.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

For all the corrupt individuals in this world who have made a deal with the devil, your time is coming. Is the creature greater than its Creator? No. Satan knows he is already defeated and cannot be redeemed. The bottomless abyss was created for him and his minions, the demons. Man will go there if he insists, but it was not created for him. Free will makes that possible. You can reject Christ if you so choose, but I would advise against it.

Receiving Christ, while of immense benefit to the receiver, is frankly illogical. It makes no sense to the common man. Reading the Bible helps clear up some of the confusion, but because there are so many different interpretations to certain portions of scripture the confusion continues. It becomes imperative to pray your way thru the reading of scripture, that the Holy Spirit would do what he has been called to do - lead and guide. 

Don’t become a corruptible individual. Build up your faith and trust in God and stand firm on ‘the rock that is higher than I’. Turn away from the temptations that Satan dangles in front of you. He knows your weak points and will attack those areas to make you stumble and fall. God is mighty and able to lead you thru all the efforts the enemy unleashes against you. No matter what befalls you, rest in God as you continue to feed your spirit man. Bolster your faith and trust in the Lord by reflecting on all the answered prayers he has provided for you over time. Corruption is for the short sighted, power hungry individuals who desire to avoid God’s presence in their lives. Their end is coming. Keep the faith, pray without ceasing and stay prepared. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries  

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Is it true that it’s easier to lie than tell the truth? Some seem to think so, but my mother told me when I was around 7 years old that I shouldn’t lie because she will always find out. At 7 I believed her and have never been in the habit of lying. To say I’ve never lied in all my 66 years would be a lie in and of itself, but I never made a habit of it. As I have grown older, I have learned to take pride in the fact that “I don’t lie” ... and I don’t. There is no lasting benefit to lying, only a short-term benefit. Scripture lets us know we never get away with anything when we lie. Lying is a sin against God and sins are never hidden forever. “But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD— and be assured that your sin will find you out.”  ^{Numbers 32:23}

            Being a truth teller is something to aspire to. Being inclined to lie in certain situations because we are sure no one will ever find out is ill fated logic. Why? Because God knows all and sees all. NOTHING is hidden from him. You may fool everyone on this earth, but God still knows all about it. Knowing you did something wrong in the sight of God can weigh heavy on a person. Confess it and repent. That is the only way to remove the weight of guilt. 

                  Using Christ as our model for living, we should take the time to study HIS life thru the scriptures and in doing that become a true living, breathing example of God on earth. Don’t let it go to your head, we are ALL ambassadors for Christ. We are no better or worse than the next guy or gal, we are just trying our best to be obedient to the Word of God. It’s not about you, but rather God in you that truly matters. Shed your selfishness and become selfless instead. It’s not about you, but rather everyone but you. God will sustain you in this life so you can do for others. Lie no more. Be a truth teller of the highest order and let Christ shine forth from your life. 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 God doesn’t answer all our prayers? Theoretically, there could be many reasons. One example can be found in Daniel 10, where the prophet Daniel prayed for 3 weeks … on the 24^th day a mighty angel told Daniel he had been delayed 3 weeks due to a confrontation with a demon (one of the fallen angels). Frankly, that may happen a lot. One never knows. Daniel’s prayers were answered after the stated delay. 

I believe God answers in 3 ways: 1) yes, 2) no, or 3) not yet. But there are times when people are suffering with diseases or other physical ailments and never get healed this side of heaven. While I have no explanation for that, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an answer, it just means I don’t know it. God knows and understands yet will not divulge his reasoning for not bringing healing.  Does this mean God is a dictator? No, I really don’t think so. The fact that he knows ALL THAT CAN BE KNOWN puts on hold the accusation that God is a tyrannical king. 

If we always got exactly what we prayed for instantly would there still be the need for faith? I think ‘yes’, but to a lesser extent. You would have the faith and trust to ask in the first place, but knowing the answer is instantly coming takes some of the gloss off your faith. Scripture implies that whatever we ask for we shall receive ^{(Matthew 21:22)}. I say ‘implies’ because while it definitely says that it is not as it appears.  

We are expected, due to the love we have for the Father, to grow spiritually and seek things that are pleasing to God and according to his will for us. Our materialistic nature would want every ‘thing’ our eyes saw, not unlike a small child in a grocery store pointing to everything they see and yelling out to their parent that they want this and that.  Sometimes the parent must say ‘no’ because they know that ‘thing’ will not be good for them. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Isn’t God doing the very same thing for us? I say FOR us, instead of TO us, because he’s truly doing us a favor by withholding certain things we say we want or need.  

There are many things I don’t understand in this life, but I have deemed that alright, because I believe I know God fairly well. That’s not just because I’ve been walking with the Lord for over 42 years, but because I have spent much of that time reading the Word and seeking to please God with my life each day. Sure, I have good days and bad days, but God is still God in spite of my failings and his love for me is unwavering. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

 

Remain True to Your Faith

2 Timothy 2:11-13 “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him,
we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.”  

            Paul’s two letters to Timothy were written to encourage, urge and command him as a trusted brother in the faith to remain faithful to his calling and endure in the face of any hardship.  Timothy had accompanied Paul on his second and third missionary trips and was left in Ephesus as the apostle’s representative.  

Here Paul lays out for Timothy the crux of his mission.  It needs to resonate with us as well for it remains true to this very day.  If we join in Christ’s death by confessing our need for God’s forgiveness, we will live for all eternity with Him.  If we endure any and all hardships for His sake, we will reign with Him forever.  We are cautioned that if we fall victim to apostasy¹, God too will disown us and lastly, even if our faith fails us God will remain faithful.  This last statement is a testimony to the unchanging character of God.  He is the one true constant in a sea of inconsistency.

The hardships spoken of above are not financial or physical hardships in and of themselves, but rather hardships suffered for the sake of Christ.  God will never abandon us regardless of what state of commitment we are in.  Our faith tends to ebb and flow as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.  It’s as we learn to trust Him more that our faith becomes stronger.  Each life event gives us an opportunity to utilize our faith in a bigger way.  Will we trust God to work things out for His ultimate glory or will we shrink away from each challenge, having our spiritual growth become stunted. We mustn’t allow this to take place.  It’s our choice.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

¹ Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

God is Love

1 John 4:8 “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

1 John 4:16 “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 

Is it true that all the attributes said of ‘love’ in 1 Corinthians 13 are also character traits of God? I believe they are. So, isn’t it possible that God’s name could replace the word ‘love’ in that portion of scripture and describe the many wonderful attributes of our Lord? I believe so.

Let’s have a look …

 

            “(God) is patient, (God) is kind. (He) doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast and isn’t proud. (God) doesn’t dishonor others, isn’t self-seeking, isn’t easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. (God) doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (God) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (God) never fails.”

 

            Kinda cool, huh? The words are interchangeable. Not only do you have a crystal-clear definition of ‘romantic’ love, but you also have a crystal-clear picture of what Almighty God is like and in turn, what we are to be like. Take the hint, imitate Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            Too many people simply go to church & think that makes them a Christian, but it’s like the old saying goes: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.” * 

Is your faith real? Prove it! As believers in Christ, we are supposed to use God’s Son as our model for living. Do you? God is looking for faithful followers who will live out their faith, leading by their actions rather than by their words. It’s like another old saying: “Actions speak louder than words.” **What are your gifts? How are you using them for the Lord? ARE you using them for the Lord? Leading with ‘lip-service’ accomplishes nothing. 

Read God’s Word daily & live it! We are in a very unstable time in our country’s history. Prepare yourself by deepening your walk with the Lord. HE will never fail you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Attributed to Evangelist Billy Sunday. William Ashley Sunday was an outfielder in Major League Baseball's National League and widely considered the most influential American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th century.

** Attributed to Abraham Lincoln.

Loving Obedience

John 14:23 “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’”

         Saying you ‘know’ Jesus isn’t the same as loving him and ‘loving’ him isn’t the same as obeying him. Just as faith should lead to trust, ‘knowing’ should lead to loving which should lead to ‘obeying’ the Lord. His standard for living is clearly mapped out in scripture, but to live it you must read it and know it. How can you live it if you don’t read and know it? Saying you don’t understand it to read it is no excuse, because if you ask, the Holy Spirit will enable you to understand what the Bible is saying. 

                  John MacArthur* has a clear and insightful statement regarding loving and obeying God: “true saving faith is manifest by works produced by God in the transforming, regenerating power of the Spirit. Those works are expressions of the love which the Spirit pours into the believer’s heart.” ^[1] In other words, living God’s word produces faith-works by the Holy Spirit within you. Your obedience is what causes you to deepen your relationship with him. Your obedience is to be a habitual practice as evidenced by our love for Christ and the Father.

                  “Obedience is not, however, the condition of God's love for humans but the proof of their realization of his love and of their love for him.” ^[2] Not only can nothing separate us from the love of God, but there are no conditions placed upon that love. ^{[Romans 8:38-39]} It is in loving God that we obey him thus allowing us to realize our ultimate goal, which is eternity with him in heaven. God is just, fair, and merciful so I do not know what becomes of those who choose not to know him deeper or obey his word. That is above me and left in God’s hands. He is the judge, not any of us. I suppose the question then would be, why wouldn’t someone who said they loved God NOT at least attempt to know and obey his word? It’s a mystery to me. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resources: www.biblegateway.com; 

[1] John MacArthur Study Bible, 2^nd Edition.

[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament

* John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and president of The Master's College & Seminary.

No Condemnation

Romans 8:1-2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

            There is a distinct reason why there was and is no condemnation for those who are truly saved. That reason is simply this: the blood of Christ dissolved the Old Testament Law by fulfilling it once for all for all time. Our guilt due to our sinful disobedience to God’s standard for living has been removed. That is because the punishment that was meant for us was taken on by Christ, the sinless godman who willingly took our beatings and allowed himself to be crucified on a cross of wood. Is that what your Christianity means to you? It should. 

Salvation wasn’t free, there was a gruesome cost that was paid in full by someone who never sinned. That should mean something very specific to us. We are free of our sin debt because of one man’s actions. What does he mean to you? Or do you go about your life with nary a thought to the sacrifice made for your soul. How tragic that would be.

The Law pointed out sin, but the sacrifices made never erased it, only covered it up. The controlling power of sin only produces death. The controlling power of the Holy Spirit produces life, and abundant life at that. We stand now not as condemned men*, but free men, not only now but for all eternity. We must keep this in mind when we live our lives. Christ dying for our sins is no small thing. It is the thing that should mean most to the believer. Serving God isn’t a chore, but a joy or at least it should be. Let your life be worship to our God. Seek his face consistently and lift him up for he is more than worthy of our worship, honor, and praise. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: NIV Study Bible Notes

* The word ‘men’ is used as a generic term to represent all of humanity: men, women & children.

God's Favor

Psalm 5:12 “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

            Ever feel like God was far from you? He’s not. Scripture is very clear that he is all around us and his protection is all around us as well. The Lord uses a shield as the example of the type of protection he gives his children.

When you think of a shield, what do you think of. Let me help you … think of the Roman full body shields that had a leather covering on the front that was doused in water. It covered the body of the soldier who by all reports was on average of somewhere between 5’6” & 5’9” tall. The wet leather extinguished fire tipped arrows their enemies would fire at them. They were well protected and by comparison, so are we. God keeps us safe from all dangers.

God’s favor that is spoken of means free favor, which can mean “support”. We are covered with his love and grace … his undeserved favor. God’s every kindness is afforded to us. 

Famous evangelist Charles Spurgeon asks the question, “How battered have we gotten relying on our own skill.” Only you can answer that question, but for myself I know my poor decisions in life have left me pretty scarred. We must rely on our faith and trust in God and live to please him and him alone. That is how we will find his full favor and rest in the lasting peace only he provides. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resources: Geneva Study Bible, John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, The Treasury of David (Charles Spurgeon).

Consistent Living

Psalm 119:1-2“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart ….”

As we walk through this life we are confronted with many challenges. Some things challenge our morals, some our ethics and still others our very belief in Almighty God. It’s only as we seek Him with all our heart on a daily basis that we can withstand the pressures we find ourselves confronted with. If we strive to follow God’s standard as laid out in scripture, we will be successful in this life. Not success as the world knows it, but true success as ordained by our Heavenly Father. Due to our forgiven status, we are seen as blameless in His eyes. As we walk with the Lord, we gradually become more and more like Him in all our ways. This makes us a positive, wholesome example for those around us who have never surrendered their will to God. Living a genuine, consistent Godly life among the lost will do more good for the kingdom than any words we could say. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day