Hatred

According to Merriam-Webster, "hate" is defined as “intense hostility & aversion that often comes from fear, anger, or injury. It can also mean extreme dislike or disgust,” …. As a verb, it means “to feel intense dislike or extreme aversion for someone or something.”

 

            Hate is an ugly word and an even uglier emotion. When you say you either hate someone or something you are defining that person or thing as unworthy of love. God hates sin, but hates none of His creation, no matter how they act or what they do. Nothing can cause Him to hate you… nothing. Having said that it should be pointed out that when someone whom God loves insists on going his or her own way they are pushing God’s love to the side, making it a nonessential thing in their life. Without a relationship with God you will never be able to be in His presence and reap the benefits of knowing Him. Now we don’t DO things to gain blessings, we DO things because they are the right thing to do; like being kind to another, or treating others the way you’d like to be treated. That’s Biblical and just a couple of things that are the right thing to do. Is it pleasing to the Lord? Absolutely. Why? Because it is taught in His scriptures which means it comes from His heart.

            We should feel compelled to live in peace with a spirit of kindness instead of cultivating hate that leads us nowhere. Sure, people get on our nerves, even make us mad, but to hate someone or something is taking our feelings to another level; a level that simmers and ultimately burns all that is around both you and the party it is aimed at. With hate there are no winners, only hurt feelings and a compromised disposition. For the Christian the word hate should not ever be found in our vocabulary. Only regarding sin, nothing else. We shouldn’t hate those who disagree with us, but if we know we are right, pray for them. Pray that either they will become open minded to the proposed truth or that you would realize your own error and alter your way of thinking or your approach.

            People don’t seem to want to calmly discuss anything anymore. We seem to live in a “I’m right, you’re wrong”society where tolerance is wearing very thin. Don’t respond with hate. That is ALWAYS the wrong approach. Always. Seek a spirit of calmness from the Lord if you are saved. If you are a non-Christian, you’re basically on your own with no resources to draw from but a Psychology website. Even then hateful people aren’t likely to venture to any sites that may help them. They are too hellbent on despising the supposed opposition. Love conquers all. Hate conquers nothing. It raises your blood pressure, and is generally not at all healthy for you as a person. An unhealthy heart can kill you. Living in peace can bring rest to your body, soul, & spirit. You choose your own path. Hate is unnecessary, but love is essential. Love doesn’t reveal weakness of character; love reveals strength of character because we will ourselves to do that which may not come naturally to us. It’s much easier to allow your emotions to run free, which constitutes running amok. It’s more difficult to pull back on the reins and take it easy. Self-Control is also essential and is listed in scripture as a healthy attribute. Take in the positive, discard the negative and learn to be content is all circumstances.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What Good Is It...

            What good is it if we tell people we are a Christian, yet act no different than the world? The Bible teaches us how we should live, but if we don’t read it then how can we know? Our lives are supposed to be a reflection of Christ, but how can we know what is expected of us if we spend little to no time with the Lord? 

We are not of this world. We live here but we are citizens of heaven once we receive Christ. We then realize that we’re just passing thru on our way to heaven. Living here is one thing, but emulating this world’s moral & ethical values defeats the purpose of being forgiven. It’s like a pig getting cleaned up, then going and rolling in the mud all over again. We have to take heed regarding what Paul is saying when he tells the Corinthian brethren that they can do whatever they please, but not all things are helpful or beneficial for us. 

            There is a path that the Lord leads us to and then lays before us. We’ll be tried and tested on this path as the enemy attempts to lure us onto tangent paths that lead to a place we had not intended to go. 

            It is much easier to follow the wide path of the world then it is to follow the narrow path of God. Once you’ve been forgiven, it is imperative that you stay close to the Lord, especially when newly saved.

            As humans even the best of us are frail and broken from the toils and tragedies of this life. No one is perfect except God, so even once saved you will make mistakes. That’s not so horrible as long as you seek forgiveness and determine not to make that same mistake again. 

Christian’s sin, they just don’t make a habit of it. We sin due to ignorance, temptation, or frustration. Those who are secular in nature don’t consider what they do as sin. Following a creed, such as the Apostles’ Creed is much more difficult than following your own creed, based on wants and desires rather than needs. 

So be conscious of your thoughts, words, and actions and allow the Holy Spirit within to guide and direct you thru life each day. Everything in the world isn’t taboo, but if you check in with your Spiritual guide you’ll begin to recognize that which is okay and that which would not be okay. Discernment is key. Focus is paramount. It can be a daily struggle, but if we rely on the Lord we will make it thru. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Loneliness

Being alone and being lonely are two different things. One can be alone without being lonely, and one can be lonely in a crowded room. Loneliness is, therefore, a state of mind, an emotion brought on by feelings of separation from other human beings. The sense of isolation is very deeply felt by those who are lonely. The Hebrew word translated “desolate” or “lonely” in the Old Testament means “one alone, only; one who is solitary, forsaken, wretched.” There is no deeper sadness that ever comes over the mind than the idea that we are alone in the world, that we do not have a friend, that no one cares for us, that no one is concerned about anything that might happen to us, that no one would care if we were to die or shed a tear over our grave.

No one felt loneliness more keenly than David. In a series of earnest, heartfelt appeals to God, David cried out in his loneliness and despair. His own son had risen up against him, the men of Israel went after him, and he was forced to flee from the city, and leave his house and family. Lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16), his only recourse was to turn to God and plead for mercy and God’s intervention (Psalm 25:21) because his only hope was in God. It is interesting to note that the word “lonely” is never used in the New Testament to describe people. In the New Testament, the word “lonely”only occurs twice and both times refers to desolate places (Mark 1:45; Luke 5:16), where Jesus moved off into the wilderness to be alone.

Whatever the cause of loneliness, for the Christian the cure is always the same—the comforting fellowship of Christ. That loving relationship with our Master has reassured and encouraged countless thousands who languished in prisons and even went to their deaths for His sake. He is the friend who “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), who lays down His life for His friends (John 15:13-15), and who has promised never to leave us or forsake us but to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We can take comfort in the words of the old hymn that says it best: “Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He is with me to the end. Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            If people could see you the way God sees you what would they see?  Would they see a living example of Christ’s love, patience, and kindness? Or would they see someone who in no way resembles the Lord? 

            We ARE human; however, as followers of Christ we are to be a reflection of our Lord as much as it is possible, in spite of our humanness. We have two mighty weapons in our arsenal. One is prayer, and the other is the Holy Spirit, who lives within us since the day we received salvation. That is the key to becoming a reflection of Christ. That and feeding your spirit thru reading scripture, listening to teachings and sermons, and taking a deep dive into the Bible as often as you can. Don’t forget contemporary Christian music, whose lyrics can at times be a sermon in itself. These things need to become priorities in our life. 

            Are you bearing fruit? Do you resemble your Heavenly Father at all? Are you learning your lessons regarding how you, as a Christian, should act and react in any given situation? Are you taking a tip from the apostle Paul and learning to be content in all circumstances? Some of these traits do not come naturally, therefore they do not come easily. It takes determination and a willingness to change. God has plans for all of us, but if we resist change then His plan will fail, by no fault of His own. 

            After considering what I’ve said here, let me ask you again: If people could see you the way God sees you, what would they see? Ponder that as a start of some self-assessment regarding your walk with the Lord.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Seek & Follow

“Seek the Lord & follow his commands (not suggestions, commands) ... Seek to do what is right and live humbly.” ^{(Zephaniah 2:3 Amp)}

The OT prophets announced news of destruction, but also offered the only means of escape and protection turning from sin and walking with God.

Micah 6:6-8... “What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Frankly, the only way to accomplish what Micah is saying above is to draw close to God and learn from Him that which is required of you as His child. The Holy Spirit is the One who resides within us and will guide and direct us if we will learn to be attuned to what He is saying to our spirit. It requires trust. Trust in Almighty God. Without proof that He even exists, we need to allow our faith to kick in, followed by trust, believing that our God always has our best interests at heart.

Without God, we are a rudderless ship with no ability to navigate the rough seas or shallow waters. Chances are we would either be broken up and sink or run aground. Faith and trust in the Lord enables us to strap ourselves to the mast and ride out any storm. We must seek out a spirit of calmness in the midst of calamity so as to properly navigate thru our troubles. Do as we know we ought to do according to God and His Word and our life will be pleasing to the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Monergism vs. Synergism

          Big words that will mean nothing to most of you, I’m guessing. Well, Monergism happens to be what most of us believe; that God is solely responsible for the salvation of ones soul. Synergism shows that while God is involved in salvation, yet must work in tandem with His creation to achieve redemption. 

            The essence of the Monergistic argument is that God is in the business of actually saving people and not merely making them “savable.” Monergism starts with an enemy of God, seemingly unsavable, and, by the grace of God, brings that spiritually dead person into saving faith and union with Christ. Synergism starts with a person who has at least a spark of spiritual life. This person has the natural ability to take a step toward God apart from grace and thus meet God in the middle. God may do most of the saving work, but He must somehow also depend on the work of the individual being saved. This concept is found nowhere in scripture, but Monergism is.

 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” ^{(Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)}

“And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is — free and undeserved.” ^{(Romans 11:6 NLT)}

            It is solely God’s doing to save us. We can do nothing in and of ourselves to achieve forgiveness, heaven or even come into God’s good graces on our own. While atonement is available to all, only those who are drawn to Him can receive God’s redemptive work. In other words, man is not ever inclined to come to God on his own, although it may on the surface appear that way. It’s a spiritual encounter that our spirit recognizes and latches onto. 

            So believing in the biblical rendering that God alone is responsible for the salvation of man would make you Monergistic in your beliefs. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

John 6:29

Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”

 

            There was a problem back in Jesus day that still exists today. “Many are seeking to earn their way to heaven by good works. But before they can do good works for God, they must first believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Good works do not precede salvation; they follow it. The only good work a sinner can do is to confess his sins and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.” ^[1]

            Isn’t it interesting that Jesus is having to explain what the work of God is even after the miracle of the loaves and fish. The number 5000 didn’t include the women and children, so there were more than twice that number in attendance. Feeding all those people as much as they wanted from 5 loaves and 2 fish. I don’t know about you but that seems like a mega miracle to me. Yet they still sought ways to please God thru what they did.

            “The crowd misunderstood what Jesus was saying in v.27 [“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of God will give to you, ....”], which prompted Jesus to remind them that an exclusive focus on material blessings is wrong. The only “work” God desired was faith and trust in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.” ^[2]

            Doing good, while admirable, means nothing without the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior of your life. You cannot EARN your way into heaven. A wholesale change needs to take place on the inside. Without that you are just spinning your wheels. Not to mention the fact that God knows every motivation for why you are doing what you’re doing. All glory should go to God and Him alone. Not you, not me, not anyone other than Almighty God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] The Believer’s Bible Commentary

^[2] The MacArthur Study Bible

 

Isaiah 53:4-6... We Are Healed

        “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” ^{(Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV)}

            What is the reason Christ went to the cross? Was it to heal our sicknesses and diseases? Where exactly does it say that? Verse 5, “... by his wounds we are healed.”? Is there only one type of healing? Could it refer to the healing of our souls that were bound for an everlasting hell because of our propensity to sin. Again I ask, why did Jesus have to go to the cross? The answer is simple, but has nothing to do with physical healing.

            The answer is that Jesus had to go to the cross, bleed, and die to provide a living sacrifice for the entirety of sins committed by us all. Being sick or having a terminal disease aren’t classified as sins. But a lifestyle that contradicts what God had intended for us is sinful. Why? Because Romans 3:23 tells us “we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” No matter how good you may think you are, without Christ you are a sinner, just like everyone else. Christian’s are just sinners saved by grace.

            Nothing in Isaiah 53 would lead us to believe that His death on a cross would insure our physical healing. Would that mean no one would ever die? If every time we were ill, no matter how mild or how critical, God would touch us, and we would become well? That sounds a little absurd to me. We all die eventually, but God does heal according to His will for us as individuals. He chooses not to heal at times, and though I don’t entirely understand why, it’s okay with me because I’ve learned to trust Him with my life. There are many examples of believers who were struck by tragedy, and while God chose not to heal them, He did use them mightily for His Kingdom.

            Life this side of heaven was never intended to be perfect. Evil exists in this world because of the one who has control over it; Lucifer, aka, Satan. We can live within a sin sick, evil world because Christ lives and is our protector.

            To conclude, let me ask you one more question. Would you rather be healed of some terminal disease or be forgiven for all your sins? Mind you, it’s one or the other. It cannot be both. A terminal death would just usher me into His presence that much sooner. Do you love the Lord? Are you disillusioned by the fact that not all sicknesses are healed by God? Don’t be. Scripture is very clear; Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” That’s why I trust the Lord. How about you? 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Is It Ever Okay to Lie?

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.” ^{(Proverbs 12:22 NLT)}

            The Bible nowhere presents an instance where lying is considered to be the right thing to do. The ninth commandment prohibits bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16). Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” as two of the seven abominations to the Lord. Love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). There are many examples of liars in Scripture, from Jacob’s deceit in Genesis 27 to the pretense of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Time after time, we see that falsehood leads to misery, loss, and judgment.

There are at least two instances in the Bible where lying produced a favorable result. For example, the lie the Hebrew midwives tell Pharaoh seems to result in the Lord’s blessing on them (Exodus 1:15-21), and it probably saved the lives of many Hebrew babies. Another example is Rahab’s lie to protect the Israelite spies in Joshua 2:5. It is important to note, however, that God never condones these lies. Despite the positive outcome of these lies, the Bible nowhere praises the lies themselves. The Bible nowhere states that there are instances where lying is the right thing to do. At the same time, the Bible does not declare that there is any possible instance in which lying is an acceptable option.

The question then remains: is there ever a time when lying is the right thing to do? The most common illustration of this dilemma comes from the life of Corrie ten Boom in Nazi-occupied Holland. Essentially, the story is this: Corrie ten Boom is hiding Jews in her home to protect them from the Nazis. Nazi soldiers come to her home and ask her if she knows where any Jews are hiding. What is she to do? Should she tell the truth and allow the Nazis to capture the Jews she was trying to protect? Or should she lie and deny that she knows anything about them?

In an instance such as this, where lying may be the only possible way to prevent a horrible evil, perhaps lying would be the best of the available options. Such an instance would be somewhat similar to the lies of the Hebrew midwives and Rahab. In an evil world, and in a desperate situation, it may be the right thing to commit a lesser evil, lying, in order to prevent a much greater evil. However, it must be noted that such instances are extremely rare. And, even in those situations, lying would still be a sin, because it would still be violating the character of the God of truth (Hebrews 6:18). The vast majority of lies are due to people seeking to protect themselves, promote themselves, or harm someone else. That is why the Bible so clearly, strongly, and consistently condemns lying as a sin.  

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

SOURCE: www.gotquestions.org

NOTE: For other Scriptures that speak negatively of lying, see Psalm 119:29, 163; 120:2; Proverbs 12:22; 13:5; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; and Revelation 21:8.

“I Have to See Evidence of God’s Existence.”

Behind this seemingly humble and reasonable request there is actually a vast amount of pride. The trouble is that the person making this claim assumes they are in the position of being able to judge the evidence. They assume they have the neutrality, intelligence, and ability to assess whether there is a God or not. They have, in effect, positioned themselves as the judge of The Judge. So the first question we should ask anyone who demands evidence, is why they think they have the capacity to judge any such evidence? You cannot see God without humility. It is only when we kneel at the cross, rather than flying over it at drone height, that we are able to see where love and mercy meet.

Very often, the person who demands evidence has already made a pre-judgement that there can be no such evidence. Some have found that if you answer a particular problem, or provide a particular piece of evidence, the person you are answering immediately turns to something else just to avoid the issue. In order to overcome this prejudice and to avoid wasting a vast amount of time arguing about such vital issues as whether Noah walked to Australia to get kangaroos, simply suggest the following: ask anyone who demands evidence, what evidence is it that they would accept for God? Honest atheists like Richard Dawkins admit that there is almost nothing that would convince them of God. If a giant finger was to write in the sky, “I exist”, they would find some alternative way of explaining it. Anything other than believing in an almighty personal Creator. 

When the Big Bang was proven and it became clear that the universe did indeed have a beginning, as the Bible stated, some atheists were so desperate to avoid the obvious implications that they refused at first to accept it (and afterwards quickly ran off to place their faith in the unproven multiverse theory). Their philosophy is what I call ABG-ism (Anything But God). It is not so much that they believe there is no evidence for God, but they are emotionally driven by their desire that there should be no evidence for God.

                  In the end believing in God is a choice. He created a belief system and the right to either abide by it or not abide by it. He calls it “free will”. There IS no solid, tangible evidence that there either IS a God or ISN’T a God. To potentially complicate the issue even more, just because atheists say there IS no God, doesn’t mean they are right.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.solas-cpc.org/what-to-say-when-someone-asks-for-proof-of-gods-existence/

 

Contentment

“I have learned to be content in all circumstances.” - Philippians 4:11

            Just the fact that the apostle Paul said he had “learned” to be content, tells me it didn’t come naturally. I can get a little amped up with regards to certain situations that arise in my life. Being content in those situations usually doesn’t cross my mind. I also have had a tendency to overreact to some things as they occur. Being content then is typically the furthest thing from my mind. So, like Paul, I must learn to be content. 

            The Holy Spirit is the teacher who shows us how to be content in all circumstances, but we have to be spiritually tuned in to hear the lesson He is attempting to share with us. That requires quiet, meditative time alone. It doesn’t much matter where we find solitude, what matters is that we do it. I am easily distracted; therefore, I seek out a place with few or no distractions. Then I have to quiet my usually busy mind. I have to rein it in and focus on Christ instead of every other thing around me.

            This may be easy for some, but it is hard for me, and I know I’m not the only person who struggles with quieting their mind. It all hinges the closeness of our walk with the Lord. God desires our company. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ^{(Phil 2:13 NLT)} Doing what pleases the Lord is one excellent way to become content in all circumstances. How can we know what pleases God if we don’t cultivate our relationship with Him. He’s not hiding. He’s EVERYWHERE!! And He lives IN US in the person of the Holy Spirit. 

            The only way to find personal peace, which is essentially what contentment is, is to work at your relationship with the One who created you. It is a never-ending endeavor which will reap dividends in the end. The reward for seeking contentment this side of heaven is an eternity of peace and contentment with the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Is God a Dictator?

             The premise that you either serve God or go to hell, is incorrect. While in a technical sense the above premise is true, there’s a little more to it than that.

“God doesn't arbitrarily make rules and punishes you for breaking them. God gives recommendations on what results in your well-being. You can choose to follow these recommendations or choose not to follow them.

Think of it this way: A doctor recommends you take medication. You can choose to take the medication, which will result in your well-being, or you can choose not to take it, which will result in your not being well. God doesn't force you to do anything. If you don't want to be with him, he doesn't make you. You're free to choose....” ^[1]

                  While I agree in principle with the above quote, I disagree with the word this person uses: “recommendations”.  We are given laws to abide by. While Jesus coming fulfilled the law, ushering in the Age of Grace, the OT law still stood as a guideline to follow. “Many scriptures in the New Testament show that Jesus and the apostles upheld the 10 Commandments, ...  not as ‘ceremonial legalism’ or a way to ‘earn’ salvation, but as essential laws to govern a Christian’s life. Many scriptures show that every one of the 10 Commandments is reinforced in the New Testament.” ^[2]

                  So is God a dictator? “A dictator is someone who has a position of leadership obtained by force. It is someone who rules with absolute authority without always having a person’s best interest in mind. It can be in a cruel or brutal way of leading.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us God’s intent regarding those who choose to follow Him ... “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

God is not a dictator. He is Sovereign, as in having the Highest Power and the King of Kings, but within His great mysterious plan for us, he has given us a choice. He first gave us choice in Genesis 2:15-17, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die*.’” 

This is the first choice that God gave to Adam: to obey or not to obey. From Adam to us today, every day we all have choices, to follow self, which is our natural inclination, or to follow the Word of God. Each have consequences.” ^[3]

God allows His creation a moral/ethical free will in which mankind can think, say & do as they like. They don’t have to acknowledge God in any way; however, as with any decision that is made, consequences shall follow. That isn’t a biblical principle, but rather a universal law. ANY decision made results in some sort of consequence; which is: something that logically or naturally follows from an action taken. Everything God does is designed to benefit those who abide by His statutes. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] An anonymous statement on Reddit (www.reddit.com) in response to that premise that ‘God must be served, or you will go to hell’.

^[2] https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/10-commandments/the-ten-commandments/10-commandments-new-testament/

* This refers to our spiritual death & not our physical death.

^[3] https://anchorsaway.org/do-christians-have-a-choice-or-is-god-a-dictator/

God as Teacher & Guide

“This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Isreal: ‘I AM the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.’” – Isaiah 48:17 NLT

            What can we learn from this statement? God is like a Father to us. He wishes to teach and guide us each day. When we listen to Him and obey His words, peace & hope will come to us. It’s God’s wish to bless His children and not hurt us.  If we refuse to listen to the instruction(s) of Almighty God, we invite disruption, and chaos into our lives. It may not be immediate, but it will come because we have decided that we know better than God how to run our own lives. In all honesty, we are incapable of doing ANYTHING of any eternal value without Him.

            What do you think you could learn from someone who knows all that can be known? I’d say a bunch, but you have to pay close attention in order to correctly decipher the information that is being disseminated.

            We all should know that there are any number of tools we can use to find out how to get from one place to another; MapQuest & Google Maps are just two. But those tools will never clue you in regarding where God wishes you to go. Using spiritual discernment will. 

To achieve that level of understanding it helps to remain quiet before the Lord; having your mind focused on Him. The definition of discernment is “to have keen perception & judgment”. ^[1] While it is possible for a person to have discerning abilities, to grasp the deeper meaning of God’s Word we definitely need the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual discernment needs spiritual representation; namely God’s involvement.

Always remember Jeremiah 29:11; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." If God didn’t love and care for you, then why would He say that His plans for us are “to prosper us and not harm us”. This isn’t a promise to prosper us in a monetary way, but rather to have us prosper in a spiritual way. Money tends to disappear faster than an ice cube in the hot sun, but prospering spiritually will be with you for all eternity. Weigh your options carefully so you make wise choices.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] The Common English Dictionary.

Trusting God

When you don’t understand something, you don’t suddenly stop believing in it, or at least you shouldn’t. Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t automatically make it untrue. People are lazy when it comes to researching something. I know because I can at times be a little lazy in that regard as well. Just because something doesn’t seem correct or fair doesn’t mean it’s not so. It would seem to me that we all have underestimated just who God is and what He is able to do. Just because He heals some and not all doesn’t discount His existence, and it doesn’t make Him mean. Like the owner of a company can run it the way He’d like, so God, the creator of the universe and man’s first breath, can do as He so pleases as well and that is simply the way it is. If you think that’s unfair, then you don’t understand the basic concept of ownership.

If I own something, anything really, I can do with it whatever I want. God is essentially the same way though that is admittedly a gross oversimplification. Something we need to understand about God is that He is more powerful than anything in His created world. He also is able to be everywhere at the same time by His spirit. And finally, there is absolutely NOTHING that can be known that He does not know. On top of all that He loves His creation, flaws and all. He will never stop loving any of us. Some folks blow that off as a myth or fairytale. They refuse to exercise their mind and think thru the immense spiritual and as a result, eternal ramifications. It’s as if they don’t want to think about anything regarding God, Jesus, the devil, heaven, hell, sin, eternity ... none of it. It’s as if they can make it all become surreal in their own mind, so they don’t feel bad or wrong casting it aside. 

Face it. Some folks simply do not want to know Jesus. You can’t force it down their throats. And you don’t want to have them agree with you just to make you go away. If they are hell bent on side stepping the whole issue, then we must let them, for Christ seeks willing followers, not those who feel pressured into converting to something they have no desire for. 

In closing, if you are seeking to find the truth, then ask God to reveal both Himself and the truth from His Word to you. Then have your eyes and ears open, for we will never learn anything new if we are doing the talking. Pray in Jesus name for clarity and understanding. God wants you to know the truth more than you do. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Christianity & the Remedy for Sin

         Christianity is often described as the only religion that teaches salvation solely by grace, which is seen as the remedy for sin. According to some Christian perspectives, this unique teaching sets Christianity apart from other religions, which are generally said to teach salvation by works. The Bible emphasizes that the only remedy for sin is the atonement of Jesus Christ, who is viewed as the only way to God and eternal life. This is supported by passages such as Acts 4, which states, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Additionally, the concept of original sin, which is central to Christian theology, suggests that humans are inherently separated from God due to the sin of Adam and Eve, and that only through the grace of God, made possible by Jesus Christ, can this separation be overcome.

However, it is important to note that not all Christian denominations hold to the doctrine of original sin, and the idea of original sin is not unique to Christianity. Some sources indicate that the concept originates with Augustine of Hippo, and that not all Christian traditions accept this doctrine. Furthermore, while some Christian teachings emphasize the uniqueness of Christianity in offering a remedy for sin, other religious traditions also offer their own solutions to the problem of sin, though they may differ in their understanding of the nature of sin and the means of redemption. 

Christianity stands out among the rest for it deals with a heaven and a hell. It deals with judgment. That is what makes it controversial and more than likely why it is despised. A heaven-like existence can take place in the here and now in your own mind, soul, and spirit, by submitting to God’s will for you. You can experience peace now, by adhering to what scripture teaches. You don’t have to, but you can. That, in and of itself, is a wonderful blessing, because YOU make that choice. Nothing is forced on the Christian. Nothing. Choose to follow God and experience all that He affords a child of His or go your own way. That is any individual’s choice. Understand the choices you have and the ramifications of said choice ... choose wisely. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Modern Jesus vs Biblical Jesus 3

            Teachings regarding the Modern Jesus tell us that Jesus serves our will, not God’s will; plus, He hates to offend anyone. Frankly, that sounds preposterous. Jesus Himself sought His father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane, after first asking the cup that He was about to drink be taken away. He knew what must be one; however, He was able to know what was about to take place and in His humanity, wished to avoid it. What a horrible vision to have; to see in your mind’s eye that which was going to be happening to you in graphic detail. To me, it is perfectly understandable to be hesitant, though only for a moment.

            There’s nowhere in the New Testament that even insinuates that Jesus was concerned about offending anyone. While He never went out of His way to be critical, if the situation warranted it, as with the religious leaders, He was bound to tell the truth in spite of anyone’s feelings. Anyone who was offended was more than likely guilty of doing the very thing Jesus was speaking about.

            In reality, the Biblical Jesus regularly exalted His Father’s will. He does not live to serve us. To believe that Jesus serves us is to believe a false teaching. He also doesn’t go out with the purpose of being offensive, but by its very nature, the truth ends up being highly offensive to those who are resistant to it.

            This whole Modern Jesus kick is, as I see it, an effort to marginalize and humanize Jesus at the expense of His deity and God’s perfect and perpetual will. To not accept the Bible for what it proclaims itself to be, along with not portraying Jesus as He is in scripture, smacks of deconstruction, which is a “thing” that is happening among Christians. That “movement”, though not officially declared as such, leads me to believe that while any Christian is susceptible to it, those who have more questions than answers, and more doubts than acceptance, have gotten sucked into this delusion. Rather than taking the time to seek out proper answers, they use their doubts to catapult themselves into a realm of confusion and continued misunderstanding. I know and understand all too well that some things in God’s economy simply aren’t understandable and answers, at times, simply aren’t there. To take that as a sign that either God isn’t real, or His Word is compromised is weak. Some folks are not willing to put their belief in something they cannot prove out. Was their conversion real? That is not for me to say. God is the judge; we are His conduits ... ambassadors of the gospel message. Modern Jesus isn’t real. It is a perversion of the truth.

            There is no such thing as “old-fashioned” within the realm of Christianity. And there’s nothing wrong with being traditional, as long as the traditions are biblical in nature. There is no need to modernize the beliefs of Christianity because some folks say they seem antiquated. The truth is the truth and there is only one truth. The truth of God. You can choose not to believe that, not realizing that God Himself gives you the free will right now to not believe. Whenever you choose to either believe or not believe, know why you’re making that decision. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Modern Jesus vs. Biblical Jesus 2

            Two other teachings regarding the Modern Jesus are, 1) that Jesus never said anything negative, and 2) He was loved and accepted by the world, both back then and now. 

            While it’s true that Jesus wasn’t a negative person, He did speak of negative consequences for rejecting Him and God the Father. Saying Jesus was never what would be classified as negative is actually not true. He referred to the religious leaders of His day as “hypocrites” and “blind guides”. Not very positive. “Jesus expressed anger and frustration in specific instances, such as cursing a fig tree for not bearing fruit, even though it was not the season for figs, which led to the tree withering immediately.” Jesus told a man to “let the dead bury the dead” * when the man said he had to bury his father before he could follow Him. Jesus spent much time warning His listeners regarding sin, judgment and hell. While Jesus wasn’t a “negative” person, per se, He did make negative statements to make His point as evidenced in the examples above. 

            To say Jesus was “loved and accepted by the world” is a misnomer. While Jesus' love for the world was and is profound and sacrificial, the world's love for Him was not universal, and His earthly ministry was met with significant opposition. It is no different today. If it were not so then why are Christians slaughtered for their beliefs around the world?  He loves His children, but has distain for the world and all its ungodly practices. So NO, Jesus was loved by His followers both then and now, but to the world He is a person who is either hated, misrepresented, or treated with ambivalence.

            Modern Jesus is an inaccurate portrayal of who He really is. To pick out scripture to support your particular ideology is the wrong approach to researching the Bible. Taking scripture as it is written IN ITS FULL CONTEXT should give you a true picture of our Lord and Savior. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*A dead person cannot bury another person who has died, so what is Jesus talking about? It’s quite simple really. He is speaking of those who are spiritually dead. Those people are alive, but only in a physical sense. Spiritually they are dead. So that is what that statement means. Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead.

Modern Jesus vs. Biblical Jesus

            I found this information online and thought it was definitely worth sharing. The Jesus that many churches are embracing is very much different than the Jesus scripture reveals to us. With Modern Jesus only love is preaches from the pulpit, while the Biblical Jesus preaches God’s righteousness. 

            Love is the backbone of Christianity. God loves all of His creation. Out of that type of love Jesus willingly went to the cross to die in our place, but our beliefs are more than just love. Once saved we are declared righteous in God’s sight because of the blood Christ shed on the cross. This means that we are seen by God as morally upright & without any guilt or sin. Being righteous means we stand before God as people without guilt, because we have no sin recorded against us any longer.

            Modern Jesus tells that you will be given both health and wealth*, while the Biblical Jesus gives salvation, hope, peace, and joy. The problem with the Modern version of Jesus is that what we’re given (health & wealth) are temporal in nature. Why do I say that? Regarding health, all of us will die someday, so though we may be healthy now, we will eventually die. Temporal.  Wealth is a transient thing; here today, gone tomorrow. Not to mention the fact that you cannot take it with you when you die. 

            Biblical Jesus presents us with salvation, hope, peace, and joy, if we ask for them. These are not tangible things, but rather emotions that we can receive from God, and they are eternal in nature. Salvation is forgiveness from all sins for all who seek it. Hope, peace and joy can be realized from reading God’s Word, hearing it preached, and so on. We can ask for these things and receive them in various ways and they do not disappear; as in that they are not temporary.

            Next time, we will continue our comparison of Modern Jesus v Biblical Jesus. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*This is a main teaching in the Prosperity Gospel, which is unbiblical at its core.

Christian Atheism

An ‘atheist’ is someone who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods. This definition is consistent across various sources, which describes atheism as the lack of belief in deities. Some atheists may also assert that gods do not exist, while others simply lack belief without making a definitive claim about the non-existence of gods. It is important to note that atheism is not defined by what an atheist believes, but rather by what they do not believe.

A ‘theist’ is someone who believes in a conscious (usually unseen) force or something that guides the universe. They call this “force” Almighty God. (This is not to be confused with a ‘deist’, which is similar but believes God does not interfere with the world.)

A ‘Christian atheist’ is an individual who embraces the teachings, narratives, symbols, practices, or communities associated with Christianity without accepting the literal existence of God. Christian atheists may reject the traditional concept of God as a supernatural being, while still valuing the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus Christ. Who do they say Jesus is? Not the Son of God as scripture states, but rather an influential rabbi; not a deity.

In reality, there is really no such thing as a Christian Atheist. The mere title is a massive contradiction. You are either a Christian or an Atheist. You cannot pick and choose what to believe. On second thought, you CAN do that, but according to the Bible itself, you would be wrong.

The reality of it is that there is no tangible proof that God exists; however, there is no tangible evidence that He does NOT exist. Faith requires no proof, and no proof is forthcoming. We don’t need to understand God or His scriptures, per se, though we do tend to understand a good deal of things regarding the Lord. It’s when we are confronted with a situation that you feel requires an explanation and one doesn’t come. That is when we need a strong dose of trust.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.britannica.com

Justification 2

            There is another type of justification that exists. It’s when someone tries to justify his or her actions with a statement or statements as if they are seeking another’s approval of what they are either saying or doing.  Here’s an example: Joe says to Bill, “I’m thinking of cheating on my wife.” Bill replies, “Why would you want to do that?” To which Joe answers, “Bill, EVERYONE is doing it.” 

            Commentary: This situation can arise at any time for any person, male or female, Christian or non-Christian. In this case Joe is probably already planning to cheat, and may even have someone in mind and is just sending out a feeler to his friend Bill to see his reaction. When Bill’s reaction is less than supportive Joe resorts to justifying his actions with a general societal thought which is an exaggeration. There is no way Joe can know if EVERY single person cheats. To say people are prone to cheating to various degrees is more than likely a more correct statement.

            If you’re bound and determined to sin, please don’t bother to make lame excuses that you see as justification to people. It makes you look bad and insults the recipients who hear it.

            Now that’s a pretty severe example, so how about this: Person A is highly judgmental towards Person B. Person B says, “Why are you so judgmental towards me?” Person A justifies their actions by saying, “If you wouldn’t do those type of things I wouldn’t need to be so judgmental.” 

            Commentary: Person A is blaming Person B’s behavior for their being judgmental as if they have no control over their own actions.  As believers in Christ we truly have NO good reason to judge others. God judges, we represent God with Christ-like behavior. Frankly, we shouldn’t have to justify anything we say or do. We either are thoughtless with our comments or actions, or we aren’t. There is no valid justification for ugly talk and if you think there is then you may want to rethink that. 

We are ambassadors for Christ, in that we represent the Lord wherever we go. Don’t think people aren’t watching, because they most certainly are. And when they find out you’re a Christian, they are ready to point out anything you say or do that they feel is out of order (as if they would know). Focus on Christ and His words and actions and do your best to replicate it with your own behavior. Let others see Jesus in you. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing. 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Justification

          Theologically speaking, justification means “to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation”.

 

“God justifies with his forgiveness and grace the man who comes to him.” - Will Herberg *

 

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1 ^ESV

 

“...so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:7 ^ESV

 

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” – Romans 5:9 ^ESV

 

            A phrase that has been used to simplify what justification, is “Just as if I’d never sinned.” Thru Christ’s blood, combined with God’s grace (undeserved favor), we have been absolved of all sins. Just as a stain on a garment is removed when cleaned, our soul is cleansed as if it had never been stained.

            Do you honestly understand what took place when you gave your heart to Christ? It’s like having a new engine installed into a car.  You are brand new on the inside. You have been cleansed completely, just like a car that’s been detailed. We must never take God’s grace for granted. A supreme price was paid to expunge our sin. A man, albeit a Godman, willingly gave His life’s blood for millions of people throughout time to permanently remove ALL sin. 

Keep your main focus on Christ and the Father and be ever mindful of the Holy Spirit, who resides within you. It is of paramount importance for you to grasp the significance of who you are in Christ and the fact that you are a child of God. 

You are never considered worthless to your Heavenly Father, but rather of incredible value. You are uniquely made in His image and are loved by God very deeply. And NOTHING will ever change that. No matter what you ever do.

Remain focused on the life giver, and share His love and kindness to all you encounter each day. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Definition came from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

*William Herberg (June 30, 1901 – March 26, 1977) was an American writer, intellectual, and scholar. He was also a social philosopher and sociologist of religion, as well as a Jewish theologian. He was a conservative thinker during the 1950s.

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”

 

            With these couple verses Jesus exposes those folks try to be good and say all the right things, thinking that is good enough and will actually matter in the end. On ‘Judgment Day’ it will only be our relationship with Christ; as in, our acceptance of Him as our Savior and Lord, and living in obedience to His standards that will matter. 

            Jesus didn’t suffer a gruesome death on a criminals cross so we could play some sort of game with salvation. This is very serious business. Our eternal destination hangs in the balance and is based on decisions we’ve made in this life.

            It’s interesting that the “believer” told Jesus that they prophesied in His name, drove out demons, and performed many miracles, yet Jesus stated in reply that He did not know them. Perhaps He knew something about them that made them unworthy. Something Matthew didn’t reveal. Perhaps the things they did in Jesus name was for personal notoriety. The crux of Christianity though is not JUST believing in Jesus, because scripture tells us in Matthew 2:19 NLT, “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.” 

            What is true faith? “True faith, which leads to salvation, is not merely an intellectual assent but a transformative trust that results in a changed life and actions that reflect God's character.” ^[1] A person’s salvation should exhibit evidence of a life that has been changed in a significant way. 

            By the way, when someone ‘tries to be good’, what criteria do they follow? Jesus said NO ONE IS GOOD, except the Father ^{(Mark 10:18)}. Are they following biblical principles or personally interpreted thoughts. Trying to get to heaven on your own is a fools errand. There is no profit in that at all. It’s like travelling a bridge to nowhere. If we could achieve eternal life on our own, then why on earth would Jesus have had to die? We need Christ. Without Him, we are very lost with no way to find redemption. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] www.gotquestions.org