Pre-New Year’s Thoughts from a Random Mind

We are ‘on the cusp’ of a new year. 2023 represented tenuous times; times that were strained, and stressful and frankly, still are. In the face of difficulties we say, along with Thomas Paine ^{(December 1776)}, “These are the times that try men’s souls...”. But looking forward is far more profitable than wallowing in the past. Your history is ‘your story’. You made scads of decision, some without much thought.  The end result of those decisions are etched on the walls of time eternal. Now we’re ready to embark on a new journey into the future. Not the distant future, but the immediate future. 

2024 is nearly here and how things will look a year from now only God knows.  God knows all things that can be known so He knows the future from the past and also is the only one who knows when Jesus will come back. Do you feel safe?  Never doubt that you are under His full protection. You have been, are and will be until you go to be with Him. 

I felt that the look into how we as Christians act and react would serve us well going forward. We’ve probably all over-reacted to something or someone at one time or another, but how much more in control with our own emotions would we be if we relied totally on the Lord Jesus to see us thru this life. 

This new year should be a doozy, with many crazy twists and turns coming. Stay focused on the face of Christ. Give your life over to the Lord of life each day and “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ^{[Isaiah 41:10]}

            We truly have nothing to fear. If you believe in and have complete trust in God then wake up each day with a fresh, new sense of freedom. All praise to our God, who slumbers not, nor does he sleep.    

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries                                                                                                                                          

Acting vs Reacting: A brief analysis ...

Meditating, contemplating, and reflecting should be a key element of one’s walk with Christ. Much of the teaching Sri Rajaji shares can be applied to a Christians life with one exception ... our focus is to be on Christ, and by familial association, God Himself, not our inner self. We cannot meditate our way into heaven; however, meditating IS a valid way of relaxing and reflecting. Meditating on God’s Word is definitely profitable for your soul. The whole gist of serving the Lord is wrapped up in contemplating our relationship with Him and reflecting on how you can become more like Him.

            I found Sri Rajaji’s article to be very thought provoking. It was an easy read that was explained very well. As an ex-in-law used to say: “Truth is truth wherever you find it.” She was absolutely right.

There is, of course, one element that is missing. All that he says is, in my estimation, true and useful information; however, the topic of acting & reacting is dealt with slightly differently when based on faith. 

            When he speaks of the ‘solution of life’, he is leaving out the ‘life-giver’. We’ve been created with the potential to solve problems and control our own emotions. Satan attacks us at our weakest point in the hopes that we will sin. You can train yourself to withstand all the fiery darts life throws at you; however, your own resources are limited. The resources of God are endless. With the spirit of Christ within you there is absolutely nothing you cannot accomplish. 

            Re: the ‘pushing of buttons’, we must realize that many people in life push those buttons with the sole purpose to getting an unnatural reaction. Satan lives for this ... button pushing is his specialty. We must get to a place where most things simply do not bother us. This can be a heck of a lot easier said than done. But know this: Flipping out serves no good purpose. Maintaining a sense of calmness can be the result of our contemplations. Calling on the name of the Holy Spirit to lead us to victory over our problem is the difference with the Christian and Mr. Rajaji.

            “The moon shines because its surface reflects light from the sun.” ^[1] And just like the moon we are to reflect light from the Son. In other words, we should diligently strive EACH DAY to become more of a reflection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

            Rajaji talks of placing yourself in a position of power by the way you control how you act and react in any given situation. As a Christian we are to strengthen our resolve to utilize God’s power and resources to create the ‘will’ ^[2]to act and react appropriately.  

            In the end, I see value in meditating ... although what you meditate on becomes an important variable. Contemplation and reflection are valuable tools for the believer. In a secular sense, contemplation means “thoughtful or long consideration or observation”, while the ecclesiastical meaning stretches out the thought in a more specific way ... “spiritual meditation, especially in Christian religious practices where concentration of the mind and soul is upon God”.

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

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://www.livescience.com/45979-why-does-the-moon-shine.html

^[2] “The mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action.” (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.

NOTE: All definitions come from the American Heritage Dictionary.

Acting Consciously vs. Reacting Impulsively

 

Note: This article is paraphrased ... 

removing words and phrases that are either unnecessary or redundant.

 

 

What happened is past.  Your reaction to the past is your present.  And the results of your present actions will create your future. Success, happiness, joy, and fulfillment is dependent on your present actions.  Therefore, the solutionto life ^[1] is tied to your present actions. At this very moment, you can consciously decide how you will act, instead of reacting. Observe, analyze, and then act, instead of reacting based on your programmed emotional response. 

Consider this for a moment ... when someone ‘pushes your buttons’, you immediately react based on how their words affect you.  But that reaction is caused by your reactive state of mind ^[2]. Just imagine what would happen if your state of mind allows you to observe the thoughts and then decide how you want to consciously act.  This is the difference between reacting to (your situation) and consciously deciding before you act. When you react, you are not in control. The situation dictates how you feel and what you do.  However, you can change that. You can take back control of your emotions and your relationships. By consciously acting, you become the decision maker. In addition, you should know that you are the only one that can do that.  You are the only one that can change yourself.  Even after reading books or listening to wonderful speeches, it is still up to you to react as programmed by your emotions or to act consciously by using your intellect. 

There is a moment, a small opportunity after the words you hear hit you, before you react.  In that moment of opportunity, you can stop your programmed reaction by simply observing what happens in your mind. Then, deliberately act.  If you can observe what you hear, see, smell, taste, or touch while the experience is occurring, you are in the perfect position to change your programmed reactions.  You can get there by observing first and then acting. This skill is developed by a special meditation ^[3] technique!

I know this is not an easy task, especially since it involves trying to change years of ingrained behavior.  But just imagine the positive effects it will have on your life. Just imagine the benefits you will gain! For example, you will not get angry every time someone ‘pushes your buttons’.  You will instead be cool, calm, and collected. You won't say something that you will regret, nor will you do something you'll be sorry for. You will always be in a better mood, and you will be able to meet the challenges of life from a position of strength and calmness, instead of weakness and agitation.  You will be able to see situations from a wider perspective and will find it easier to come to solutions instead of giving up in frustration, or worse, reacting improperly and magnifying the situation. If you are able to control your reactions by managing your thoughts, your stress will be reduced, you will have a smile on your face more often, and you will be in a position of power rather than weakness. - Author: Sri Rajaji *

 

Note: My next post will address this article.

* Sri Rajaji is a philosopher, meditation teacher, motivational speaker, and life coach.

^[1] “The answer to a problem or the explanation for something” (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.) ---- “This is life; you face problems every day no matter how perfect you think you and your life are. Problems are there and they aren’t going anywhere unless you face them and solve them.” - https://theinternationalpsychologyclinic.com/the-10-most-common-life-problems-and-how-to-deal-with-them/

 

^[2] “The reactive state of mind is one of immediate reaction, where a person comes up with a response without deliberation or rational thought.” - https://www.wellbeingways.blog/post/the-reactive-state-of-mind-can-we-handle-it-better

^[3] “The act of meditating; contemplation; reflection.” (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.)

 

Reposted by Richard Keller, Bread of Life Ministries.

 

 

Holiday Season Thoughts from a Random Mind

Is it more important when Jesus was born or THAT He was born? What about where He was born? What about who was present to honor the newborn Son of God? Burning questions that at times consume some folks to the point that they question the validity of the Bible. You either believe the story of Jesus’ birth or you don’t. You aren’t being begged to believe it. 

                  Life is filled with options. God gave us a free will so we could freely choose what to believe faith-wise and what not to believe. What path will you choose to travel down. Frankly, God has made it so that you can believe whatever you want, but there is a caveat that comes with the freedom. It is that each option comes with consequences attached. This is something a person MUST be aware of during the decision making process. 

                  Is Jesus real? Did He exist? The great Jewish historian Flavius Josephus chronicled his existence in a one paragraph blurb: “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man.  For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease.  He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him.  And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.” ^[1]

            That’s all well and good, Rich, but Josephus is talking about when he was an adult. Yes, but he needed to be born first before anything else in his life could transpire. Obvious, I know, but in my opinion, the historian proved the existence of Jesus of Nazareth with that one, lone paragraph.

                  The whole Christmas picture can tend to be a little convoluted when you start debating all the variables that exist, but it should seem pretty clear from scripture; both prophesies and scripture itself, that it matters little about the minutia of the event. It is far more important to note & know that a child was indeed born of a virgin and was, just as the angel had said, the Son of God. Argue his existence as much as you want, but the fact remains that Christ is the only divine personage who can cleanse us from our sins, purge us of any unsavory habits, and usher us into an eternity with Him. There is NO OTHER WAY to get to heaven. Period.

                  This Christmas season is the same as every other one. We commemorate the birth of the Savior of the world. That should mean something special to every one of us. Until next time, walk with the King, and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

^[1] Jewish Antiquities, 18.3.3 §63 

(Based on the translation of Louis H. Feldman, The Loeb Classical Library.) 

Holiday Season Thoughts from a Random Mind

            Well, the shopping is done. The presents are wrapped and then, when the time is right, in the blink of an eye a tornado rips thru the family room. Colorful paper, ribbons and bows are flying everywhere! Then calm ... 

            The setup for the big day took it’s toll on your nerves and now you can enjoy peace, quiet and a delicious cup of coffee (Caramel Brule, with French Vanilla creamer ... yum!). No music, no TV, no loud noises. Dogs are chewing on the bones they got the evening before, and the parents (or in our case, grandparents) are chillin’ ... just chillin’. 

            While, as an adult, you always seem to say that you ‘don’t need a thing’ when asked what your spouse can get you for Christmas, you never fail to appreciate the lovely gifts that are bought with you in mind. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year!! But is it really just what we receive that does it for us? Or is there some other reason the season is so special?

            Our debt-payer had been born ... happened 2,000 or so years ago. Did we think of Him at all last night thru today? The debt-payer’s coming was pre-planned by the Father all along, for He knew we’d never be able to pay our debt ... not at all. Jesus Christ is the debt-payer. Revel in His birth and carry His truth in your heart each day going forward. 

 

Happy Holidays my dear friends, from my home to yours!!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

A Christmas Prayer

         Hello precious Lord ... I lift up this tired, corrupt world and ask that you bring revival throughout by Your Holy Spirit. May all those who know you come to know you in a more intimate way in the coming year. May the true spirit of the season inspire us all to strive to be a little more like Jesus each day in the way that we think, speak & act. Use each of us to bless others in the name of our God. Let us focus on all that this incredible season truly means. May our faith never waver & may our trust in you be amplified in the coming days, weeks & months. May we grow & mature in the ways of the Lord. Let us all be earnest readers, even studiers of His Word. We cannot grow by closing our minds, so always perk up your ears to hear our Lord as He speaks to us. Everything happens for a reason & God’s perfect will shall always win in the end. Don’t look at the chaos surrounding you, but rather focus on our Lord as He seeks to fill us with His peace. May the Lord bless you & your entire family with His richest & most precious blessings on this special holiday. And I wish you all a most wonderful Christmas holiday. 

We’ll dive back into our Bible at a glance study beginning on January 2^nd, 2024. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing. Amen.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Pre-Christmas Thoughts from a Random Mind

                Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name “Christmas” comes from the Mass of Christ or the Christ Mass. A Mass is a service where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. The Christ Mass took place after sunset and before the sunrise of the next day … so people had it at Midnight. 

                  Christians and non-Christians alike now celebrate Christmas. It’s become a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. It’s also a time to give and receive gifts.

                  Regarding the holiday being on December 25th, a very early Christian tradition said that the day when Mary was told she would have a very special baby, Jesus was on March 25th.  Nine months after the 25th of March is the 25th of December!

                  Some people also think that December 25th might have also been chosen because the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called 'Saturnalia' and 'Dies Natalis Solis Invicti' took place in December around this date - so it was a time when people already celebrated things. It has also been said that at a time when persecution was high, Christians celebrated the birth of Christ quietly within the Pagan celebrations so as not to raise suspicions of their being followers of Christ.

                  The Jewish festival of Lights, Hanukkah, starts on the 25th of Kislev (the month in the Jewish calendar that occurs at about the same time as December). Hanukkah celebrates when the Jewish people were able to re-dedicate and worship in their Temple, in Jerusalem, again following many years of not being allowed to practice their religion.

                  Jesus was a Jew, so this could be another reason that helped the early Church choose December 25th for the date of Christmas!  So whenever you celebrate Christmas, remember that you're celebrating a real event that happened roughly 2000 years ago when God sent his Son into the world as a redemptive gift for all mankind.

                My dear brothers & sisters, enjoy this holiday season with a renewed sense of knowing what Christmas is and means. Use this time to assess your walk with Christ. If you don’t yet know Him personally, now is as good a time as any to look into it. God loves you and Jesus, His Son came to earth and died FOR YOU! Be at peace my friends and until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Pre-Christmas Thoughts from a Random Mind

            The message of the gospel is straining to be heard over the cacophony of noise the world provides at this time of year. Salesmen sound like Carnival barkers as they sell their wares. Sales for the next “latest, greatest” thing are soaring thru the roof. The giddy excitement of getting what you’ve always wanted. The numbness that hits you over and over as your credit cards become so overworked they are warm to the touch by the end of each day. That’s what Christmas has become and that’s what it is. But is that what Christmas is meant to be?

The message of the gospel doesn’t hit you like the heavy-handed sound of a syncopated drumbeat. It’s the still small voice of peace and hope. Those who are drawn to it embrace it and follow its lead like the pillar of fire that led the Israelites out of Egypt. It speaks to our hearts about the Christmas story that was born over 2000 years ago. There are many explanations of just what a manger is. There is so much discussion about the time and the place and that which surrounded baby Jesus, that it almost overshadows the importance and miraculous nature of his coming.

             Christmas time is a time to reflect on the divine gift giver, rather than the gifts we receive, for their value is infinitesimal by comparison. We all need to focus on Christ at this time of year more so than any other time of the year for his coming is vastly important, not just to you and me, but to all mankind. His death cannot take place unless his birth comes first.

Learn to block out the wide variety of noises that attempt to break the sound barrier and home in on the importance of birth vs. the resurrection. That is not to diminish Christ’s death and resurrection at all, but it is very much like the ‘which came first the chicken or the egg’ conundrum. We Christians must stay in touch with what our faith means to us as individuals because it is a very personal individual faith that we have. Don’t ever lose sight of what is truly important during this most wonderful and significant holiday season.

       May God be praised both today and always! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Pre-Christmas Series: Who is Jesus?

Mark 1:1 New Living Translation

“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.”

             According to certain sources there are over 200 names for Jesus in scripture. We already know from the verse above that Jesus is called the “Son of God”.  This shone a light on his special relationship to God.  He is also called the “Son of Man” which revealed his human identity.  He is referred to as the “Son of David” because he is a direct descendant of King David.  Jesus is called the “Word” because he reveals God.  He is called the “Lamb of God” because he is the sinless sacrifice that atoned for all the world’s sin.  He is called “Christ”, the “Anointed One” of God.  He is called “Savior”, for only he is the One who saves. He is called “Rabbi” (Teacher) because he taught his followers about the things of God.  He is called the “Alpha and Omega”, the beginning and end of all things.  He is the “Lion of Judah”, the title given for the Messiah.  He is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”, which signifies that he is the ruler over all people.  He is the “Bright Morning Star” for he is the One who gives true light.  He is the “Word of God” for he is the voice of God to the people.  These and more are listed throughout the New Testament as identifiers for Jesus of Nazareth. 

             There are several names listed for Jesus in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament as well.  Jesus is called “Immanuel” which means “God with us”.  It’s the name the Angel told Mary and Joseph to call the baby. He is referred to as the “Prince of Peace” because he is the bringer of everlasting peace.  He is called “Wonderful Advisor” for he will always rule with honesty and justice. He is called “Mighty God” for he is supreme over all his creation, and he is call the “Eternal Father” simply because he is eternal; there is no beginning or end to him.  

             The Advent Season is a special time when we reflect not only on the baby Jesus and his coming into the world, but all the events and people that were a part of this historic time.  I’ve tried to cover events and individuals that I thought would shed some additional light on the holiday season.  Regardless of what this dying, sin sick world may think, Christ is the reason for the season and the Savior of the world.  We must never be so consumed with what the holiday has become to forget its’ true meaning.  No amount of good deeds will ever win one entrance into heaven. Only receipt of the one true and eternal gift of forgiveness and a changed life will open your door to eternity with the Lord.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: 

Pre-Christmas Series: Angels

Luke 2:8-10 New Living Translation

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’”

             People have many different ideas about angels and what they look like.  We envision anything from chubby little children with wings flitting about to beautiful women in shiny white gowns with sparkling wings. According to scripture neither appears to be the case. In Daniel, the prophet describes what he saw during his encounter with an angel: “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold ... around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.” ^[1] In Matthew’s gospel the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb where Jesus’ body lay were severely shaken and collapsed like dead men at the sight of an angel: “Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.” ^[2]

             We can learn several things from these two accounts. 1) These angels sound like very large men who were extremely strong; 2) there appearance was so striking that it immediately struck fear in the hearts of those who encountered them. 

             According to Jack Wellman ^[3] angels are not composed of physical matter but are spirit beings created by God for God.  They took on human form when they encountered mortals, typically in the male gender. They do the bidding of the Lord and perform duties for God more so than for man.  They are messengers of God and “agents to bring punishment and display his holy wrath.” A good example can be found in Revelation 18:21 ^[4].  So when an angel suddenly appeared before the Shepherds at night, and they were terrified you can understand a little clearer why.  The angel was there to proclaim the glorious news of Christ’s birth.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Daniel 10:5-6

^[2] Matthew 28:2-3

^[3] Jack Wellman is a father and grandfather and a Christian author, freelance writer, and pastor at the Mulvane (KS) Brethren church in Mulvane, Kansas. 

^[4] “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, ‘Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.’”

Pre-Christmas Series: Past & Present

Titus 3:3-7 New Living Translation

“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

             Christ’s birth was an event in history that had a specific purpose.  He was to be our Savior.  In other words he was sent by God to save us all from ourselves and our sinful ways.  Before we knew the Lord we thought that while we certainly weren’t perfect we were good people who were trying to do the right thing in life.  Without set parameters or boundaries to contain us we ended up all over the place morally, ethically, and spiritually.  Christ was born among men so that he could relate to us and by becoming relatable cause us to see the purpose of his coming.

              God is kind.  His kindness is revealed thru his mercy and grace.  Grace can be viewed as an acronym that stands for God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  It’s what we become entitled to if we receive God’s forgiveness and allow ourselves to be changed by his Holy Spirit.  The gift of God’s Son provides a second chance to live life as God intended, free from sin, ... godly living thru the Holy Spirit.  Our previous lives were fraught with foolish disobedience that made us slaves to our own ungodly desires.  We weren’t free at all, though we seemed to think we were.  Christ came to rescue us.  He took on our sin.  That is some gift.

             The Advent Season is a season of incredible miracles and resulting hope which breeds confidence.  Knowing Christ in a personal way enables us to know in our hearts and not just in our minds that we will inherit eternal life with God if we allow the Holy Spirit to perform his spiritual surgery on your heart and soul.  Salvation is like getting a complete makeover.  The Lord forces himself on no one.  We must want to become all he knows we can be in him.  It all starts with the birth of the baby who would shake up and change the world forever. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Pre-Christmas Series: Prophesy Fulfilled

Matthew 1:22-23 New Living Translation

“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel ^[1], which means ‘God is with us.’”

             The key word I would like to focus on today is the word “fulfill”.  If there is any doubt among believers that God orchestrates the events of history, causing or allowing things to take place for his own purposes, then consider this.  The Old Testament, written by man empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, predicted to each precise detail the birth of Jesus.  How else could anyone have known what was to take place hundreds of years after they had passed away?  They couldn’t know, that’s the point.  Since there are no coincidences in God’s economy, then what was revealed thru the Old Testament prophets must have been foretold by Almighty God as a means of preparing man for an event of monumental importance. I’d say the total forgiveness and removal of all accumulated sin for each created individual is monumental to say the least.

             The name the child was to be called reveals who he truly was, the Son of God born of a woman, making him wholly God and wholly man.  He alone could save mankind from the plight that awaited them.  He alone, being wholly God, could live life as we were created to live; without sin. This is such incredible news. No matter what we have ever done in our lives we can have our slate wiped completely clean.  As a stained garment can be bleached clean, so can our souls be made clean as well.  All this in exchange for a changed life dedicated to living a righteous life for God.  That is truly a great and awesome exchange. 

             Do you believe in the existence of God today?  Do you know the total significance of the birth of Jesus, the birth that the world is attempting to make irrelevant in the minds and hearts of future generations?  Christ is the only hope for a sin sick and dying world.  Without Christ there is no hope at all and without hope there can be no life worth living. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world like you never have before.  He is worthy of all our praise, glory, and honor.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] Matthew is quoting from the prophet of the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14.

Pre-Christmas Series: The Star of Bethlehem

Matthew 2:9 New Living Translation

“After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.”

             This star that scripture speaks of is the Star of Bethlehem.  There have been several theories as to what exactly this star was.  Some scientific scholars came up with 3 different scenarios that would take out the miraculous and make it an explainable event.  Some said it was a comet, but records of comet sightings do not correspond with the estimated time of Christ’s birth.

             When a cluster of planets intersect in the night sky it is called ‘a conjunction’.   Some scientists maintain that this may have been the case; however, this type of scenario doesn’t replicate the light produced by one single source.  Planets do intersect fairly frequently, but this cannot be considered a viable option due to the single source of light theory.

             Lastly, an exploding star or ‘supernova’ may have explained the bright light, but there is no record of a supernova taking place at that time in history.  

             There are a couple details about the scriptural account that should be mentioned.  The Magi and the Shepherds were the only ones who saw the star.  The example listed above would have been seen by everyone and surely would have been chronicled somewhere in the journals of history.

             The star led the Magi 6 miles to the North of their position from when they first saw it.  Stars move from East to West due to the earth’s rotation.  While this look at the star of Bethlehem certainly isn’t exhaustive, it makes a solid case that the star was a miraculous light sent by Almighty God to lead the 3 Wise Men to the place where he wished them to be to see and worship the Lord Jesus. 

             During the Advent Season we need to realize that everything that took place on that night so long ago was orchestrated from start to finish by the hand of God.  It’s no different than how his hand orchestrates our own lives as well if we allow him to.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resource:  www.christiananswers.net

Pre-Christmas Series: The Manger

Luke 2:7 New Living Translation

“(Mary) gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”

             There has been much speculation regarding the location where Jesus was born. He wasn’t born in a manger, but rather laid in a manger after birth.  Just what is a manger? A manger is a food trough for animals.  Luke’s Gospel is the only one of the four gospels that goes into detail about the birth of the Christ child.

             I’ve come across 3 scenarios for the location of the animal food trough where Christ was laid.  1) It could have been just as it has been depicted in film, on Christmas cards and in our imaginations.  A barn with stalls and a wooden food trough with animals all about and all the rich fragrances that come with that type of environment.  2) An early church tradition places the food trough in a cave where owners place their animals to protect them from the elements. It would very possibly have been cold, dank, and dirty.  3) Lastly, since Luke doesn’t use the words ‘inn’ or ‘innkeeper’, but rather the word ‘lodging’, Joseph and Mary could have been looking to stay at his family’s home.  Joseph came from Bethlehem, so he and Mary went there for the census.

             The interesting fact here is that people dwelled upstairs on the 2nd floor of their dwelling. They ate and slept there, while the animals and tools of their trade stayed downstairs.  That is where the food trough would have been.  The statement that there was no lodging for them simply meant that with family members coming to Bethlehem at the same time for the census there was no place for Joseph and Mary to stay upstairs.  So they stayed among the beasts and the tools. It’s very possible that this is where the baby Jesus spent his first night. 

             In reality it matters not where he was born. More importantly, it is the fact that he was born that changes the trajectory of history.  We can seem to agree that Jesus was laid in a hay filled food trough, not the most sterile of atmospheres. But God protected him so that he might fulfill that which he was sent to do.  God offers us that same protection throughout our lives if we will only surrender to his will for our life.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; www.gotanswers.org; www.christiananswers.net

Pre-Christmas Series: The Three Wise Men

Matthew 2:12 New Living Translation

“When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.”

             The Wise Men or Magi as they were also called, came to the manger where Jesus lay to give him gifts and worship him.  Where did they come from? What were their names? We don’t know a whole lot about them, but I believe we know enough.  There’s no record from whence they came, but historic tradition tells us that their names were Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior.  Magi were typically highly educated men of noble birth who were wealthy and prestigious within their own sphere of influence.  They could have been philosophers or counselors of rulers, learned in the wisdom of the ancient East.  Magi were men of high integrity, so their visit to see the Christ child had the most upright of intentions.  There is speculation that others may have come to worship the infant King, based on Isaiah 60:3 which says, “All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.”

             Like the Shepherds, the Magi saw a bright star in the sky the night of Jesus’ birth.  Believing it to be important, they turned to sacred scrolls they carried with them.  Their study of the scrolls led them to a determination to go in search of this infant King who would be Israel’s Messiah.  Like Abraham in the Old Testament, the three men had no idea where to go, but they followed the star which led them to where the child lay.

             God had his hand in all of this in that he supplied the star as a guiding light and spoke to them in a dream warning them not to return to Herod.  God’s plans shall never be thwarted.  Nothing is impossible for the Lord, and nothing can impede his plans from coming to fruition.  He led the people he wanted to see the Christ child and kept those who would do him harm far from him.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resource: http://www.bibleinfo.com.

Pre-Christmas Series: Herod the Great

Matthew 2:3 New Living Translation

“King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.”

             What about Jesus birth was disturbing to King Herod?  People like Herod become paranoid, ever waiting for the other shoe to drop or worse still, an assassination plot to unfold.  It was because he was a bad man who had done very bad things that he was disturbed by the events that were taking place in Bethlehem. 

             Herod the Great, as he was called, was an Edomite, who were “descendants of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob” ^[1].  Herod came from a family of manipulators who worked their way into political office with the assistance of the Roman Government, whom they supported.  Once in power, his reign was marked by harsh and bloody cruelty. It was understandable that the people would welcome a change in leadership. When the Magi came thru the area speaking of visiting the newborn King of the Jews you can imagine why Herod would be disturbed.  Other translations use words like “deeply troubled” and “alarmed”.  Suffice it to say Herod was not at all pleased by these developments. This is why he had all Jewish boys 2 years old and younger murdered. ^[2]

             Herod was nearing the end of his reign which only served to heighten his paranoia toward anyone he might suspect to usurp his throne. Whenever there is a change in leadership there is tension among the people.  You never really know ones intentions until they are in office and begin to rule over you.  The Jewish people looked upon the newborn Christ child with cautious optimism.

             The birth of Christ would bring hope to a people who were seeking some semblance of encouragement, some sign that God hadn’t forgotten them.  God sent his Son to fulfill the prophecy regarding the coming of a deliverer (Messiah) for the Jewish people.  Once born Christ’s life would be a long, eventful walk from a manger to a cross.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resources: http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org;http://biblehub.com/matthew/2-3.htm;

http://www.biblestudytools.com.

^[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Edomites.html

^[2] Matthew 2:16 “Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.”

Pre-Christmas Series: The Reason Jesus Came

Matthew 5:17 New Living Translation

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”

    Why did Jesus come?  His purpose for coming has been documented throughout scripture and even the Lord himself states above that he came to fulfill the purpose of the Mosaic Law and the Old Testament prophetic writings. The Law was divided into three categories: Ceremonial Law, Civil Law and Moral Law. Ceremonial Law has to do with worshipping God.  Once Jesus came these Laws were no longer necessary; therefore they no longer were binding to man. Jesus taught us about worshipping and loving God, so that was one purpose for his coming.

    Civil Law applied to daily living by the Jews.  Our society today is very much different from the society when the Laws were first given. They are guidelines that are to be followed to show us how we are to act as ambassadors of Christ. Jesus was our living example of these principles; ones we are to emulate each day.

             Moral Law would be, as an example, the Ten Commandments. The Jews were required to follow these Laws in strict obedience, for they came directly from the mouth of God. These Moral Laws shine a light on the nature and will of Almighty God and they still apply today. They do not bind us; however, as we live in the spirit we end up abiding by them as a result. 

     So the reason Jesus came was to fulfill the demands of the Ceremonial, Civil and Moral Laws that God had laid down for man to follow, as well as the prophetic verses that pointed to his being the Messiah Israel sought. The Laws were designed to reveal to man their sinfulness. Christ forgives sin.  Man must kneel before the Lord and seek forgiveness for this is necessary to achieve heaven. Believing is a start but is not nearly enough. A changed life needs to be the result of the forgiveness received.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Pre-Christmas Series: Christ Came to Die for Us All

1 Timothy 1:15 New Living Translation

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all.”

             The Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, his “true son in the faith”. The nature of Paul’s letter was to encourage and instruct the young disciple, who had served as a leader in the church at Ephesus. Judaizers were infiltrating the church, pushing gentile converts to follow Jewish customs and practices. Such peripheral issues were not to be given credence. Gentiles were being asked to practice Judaism at man’s request, not God’s. 

             In Paul’s letter he accentuated the fact that Jesus came to save sinners. Jesus himself said: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” When Christ came he came for a very specific purpose, to minister to all those who knew they were leading a sinful life. These were the people in need of attention. Those who believe they were just fine spiritually speaking find it difficult to envision themselves as sinners in need of saving. People are really no different today. 

             This Advent Season is a time of reflection on whom the infant born in Bethlehem truly was and who we are in relation to him. Have you faced your sinful past head on and received forgiveness from God thru the blood of Christ or are you stuck in the delusion that mere belief is more than enough to secure your place in your eternal home? Christ came for a reason; he came to die for the sins of man. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resource:  The Life Application Study Bible.

Pre-Christmas Series: Freedom Thru Christ

Galatians 4:4-5 New Living Translation

“… when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

             The Jews had been waiting for a very long time, wondering when their Messiah would come.  A messiah is a savior or liberator by definition.  The Jews were seeking liberation from their Roman oppressors at the time of Jesus.  Little did they realize that when their Messiah came they would reject him because their limited understanding would not allow them to see God’s plan.  Their shortsightedness was our gain, which is what the Lord knew would happen all along.  God set the time for Christ’s arrival.  It was a time when his promises would be fully realized.

             Christ was born under the Law and thus was obligated to fulfill it.  He could then identify with sinners of whom he was sent to save.  The liberation that the Messiah would provide was from the curse of sin.  The problem of Rome would correct itself over the course of time.  The much bigger problem was sin, not oppression.  Once a soul is rescued from its’ sinful state then the spirit is set free.  It is no different than healing a body of a physical ailment only to leave that same body under the bondage of sin.  That only means that a healthy body with an entombed soul would be cast into hell.  It is the spirit set free that enjoys true freedom and is open to enter heaven for all eternity.

             Because Christ came we are set free if we accept God’s gracious gift purchased for us thru His blood shed on our behalf.  We are not set free just because we believe, we must be changed or like a pig that returns to its muddy pen, we will go right back to our sinful ways.  The Advent Season is a season of freedom, joy, and hope for our eternity.  We have been blood bought and just like God’s everlasting, unconditional love for us, that fact will never, ever change.  It’s what we do with that news that makes all the difference in the world.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries.

 

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible, the Life Application Study Bible, and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.