What Does It Mean?

Apostasy

                  There is a Christian Rock band whose name is "Seventh Day Slumber"*. Their name is derived from Genesis 2:2, referring to the seventh day when God rested after creating the universe. It symbolizes a period of rest, referencing the biblical Sabbath; however metaphorically, it refers to a call to wake up from spiritual inactivity or lethargy. It suggests breaking free from "spiritual slumber," which is described as a state of being inattentive to one's walk with God, lazy in spiritual development, or lax in discipline.

            That all makes me think of the great apostasy foretold in the New Testament. I will break down the Great Apostasy sometime soon, but suffice it to say, it is when professing believers do an about face and renounce their faith in God. It will be a terrible time around the entire globe as the devil will for a short time have his way. Scholars who believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church feel this shall take place prior to the Great Apostasy. That would mean those professing Christ were never saved to begin with.

            It is imperative that believers remain faithful to the call that God placed upon them when they gave their heart and life over to Christ. Those who dabble in the deconstructing of their faith are playing with hell fire. Their interest in deconstructing God and His Word will result in their adjusting doctrinal and scriptural meaning to suit their own feelings about the issue. Is that the precursor to the Great Apostasy? Perhaps... so GUARD YOUR HEART against  the wiles of the enemy. Do not fall asleep. Be alert to your surroundings and be strong and unflinching in your faith and trust of the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 *Seventh Day Slumber has been making music since 1996, when the band was formed in Dallas, Texas, by frontman Joseph Rojas.  As of today, the band has been active for 30 years. 

What Does It Mean?

Insidious - proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.

 

Insidious is a word that describes a Christian’s enemy. There are a lot of insidious goings on around the globe. It’s the devil weaving his evil into the very fabric of humanity. Christian’s must gird themselves with the armor of God to defend themselves against his hideous plans for man. There are many folks who are unknowing pawns in his evil schemes. They fall victim to his tricks that are nothing more than illusions, yet appear to the untrained eye to be real. This is exactly why a follower of Christ must stay in the Word of God and then utilize the godly artillery that is available to us. Prayer in Jesus’ name is a powerful tool to thwart the enemy. It goes to the root of the problem and shuts it down. 

                  It’s important to understand that God’s timetable is NOT anything like ours. We are ruled by time, but God is the supreme ruler of time itself. That is why 2 Peter 3:8 tells us, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Time is meaningless to God.

            So be mindful of that which is transpiring at home and abroad and pray each day for God’s will to be done. Since He causes or allows everything that takes place throughout the universe, and knows all that can be known, He would absolutely know what needs to take place. It is His plan that is playing out, not man’s and not the devils. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What Does It Mean?

“GOOD”

 

                  How should the word “good” be defined from a biblical perspective? You may think you’re a good person, but my question to you is “compared to who?” Exactly who would you like to compare yourself to so you can feel like you are a good person? Adolph Hitler? The “unpleasant guy” around the corner from you? The “provocative woman” at work? How would YOU define “being good”? A definition for good must be universally accepted, not accepted just by you. Perhaps this is why in the gospel of Mark 10:18 (NIV), Jesus Himself says the following: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”

            According to the Bible, God defines "good" as morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, of high quality, and beneficial. Goodness is not merely a human standard but is rooted in God's own nature, which is perfectly good and holy. God's goodness is revealed in His creation, where He declared everything He made to be good, culminating in the summary that creation was "very good". This goodness is consistent across Scripture, with God being described as the ultimate standard of all that is good.

God's goodness is demonstrated in His actions, including His law, which is holy, righteous, and good. It is also seen in His self-giving, other-centered love, exemplified in Jesus Christ, who laid down His life as the ultimate expression of goodness. The Bible teaches that God is the source of every good and perfect gift, and His nature is such that He cannot do evil or even desire to do wrong, as it would contradict His inherent goodness.

Furthermore, the concept of good in the biblical sense is tied to moral excellence and right behavior, involving kindness, justice, righteousness, holiness, and purity. Goodness is not just about avoiding evil but actively pursuing what is right and beneficial.  Ultimately, God's definition of good is inseparable from His character—He is the source, standard, and embodiment of all that is truly good. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.christianitytoday.com

 

 

What Does It Mean?

Eternal Rewards

 

God will give rewards in heaven at the bema, or judgment seat of Christ, based on our faithfulness in service to Him... “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” ^{(2 Corinthians 5:10)}. The reward Christ receives is shared with all of us: “If we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” ^{(Romans 8:17)}

Our rewards in heaven depend on the goodness and power of God. Through Christ’s resurrection we gain an inheritance in heaven; on earth our faith is tested and results in praise and glory and honor when Christ is revealed... “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead....” ^{(1 Peter 1:3–9)}  The things we do in this life are only permanent (that is, carried with us into heaven) if they are built on the foundation, which is Christ... “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” ^{(1 Corinthians 3:11–15)}

The rewards we gain in heaven are not like the rewards we earn here on earth. We tend to think in material terms; mansions, jewels, money, etc. But we aren’t to do things in the name of the Lord for the sole purpose of gaining rewards. We must learn to be selfless in this regard. We represent Christ out of gratitude solely because of what He has done for us. Any rewards or honor we gain in heaven should be precious to us because they carry the weight and meaning of our relationship with God, and because they remind us of what He did through us on earth.

In this way, rewards in heaven glorify God and provide us with joy, and peace, as we consider God’s work in and through us. The closer we were to God during this life, the more centered on Him and aware of Him, the more dependent on Him, the more desperate for His mercy, the more there will be to celebrate. Rewards in heaven are the completion of our earthly story, and those rewards will be eternally satisfying... “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” ^{(Psalm 16:11)} 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

 

What Does It Mean?

Consistency: Being constant - Unchanging in nature, value, or extent; persistent

The Bible clearly expresses the immutability of God—His unchanging, consistent nature—in numerous passages. James communicates it like this: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” ^{(James 1:17, NKJV)}.

Immutability is the state of being unchangeable. God is many things; He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere at the same time. He is also immutable. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Since Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God, then each person of the Holy Trinity has all the same attributes as God the Father. Each person is unchanging of the Trinity does not ever change.

Consistency in everything you think, say & do is critical to having an effective Christian walk. In contrast, living in the wake of constant ups & downs, highs & lows will keep you off balance in life. The example Christ presented to us is highly consistent. What you see is what you get, in a manner of speaking. No smoke & mirrors, just true honesty & transparency. If you follow Christ’s example for living what you get is a consistent life which is highly effective as you display, along with your humanness, a straightforward, honest portrayal of Christian living as God intends it to be. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

What Does it Mean?

Abiding in Christ

“Abiding in Christ” means you are living a close, intimate, sustainable relationship with Jesus Christ. The evidence of it is thru your faith in God, obedience to His Word, and continuous trust in Him for life and strength. This should not be a “here today, gone tomorrow” type of relationship. It should become a way of life for the believer.

“Abiding in Christ” is synonymous with being saved and being "in Christ".  It entails keeping Christ’s commandments; which is a way that we abide in His love. It also means allowing God's Word to shape your mind, will, thoughts and actions. It is recognizing daily that Jesus is your source of life and strength, rather than a part of the whole. 

Christ and the believer abide in each other, which is a sign of a close, intimate relationship. As a branch on a vine would bear fruit, believers who ‘abide’ in Christ will also bear fruit in their lives.  Knowing Christ in a personal way is shown by the trust and belief that should be on full display daily.

When you “abide in Christ” you will gladly spend time in prayer, communicating with God. Notice I said, “with God”. Communicating “to God” is what a lot of us do, but God more than likely has something to say to you as well. That’s why listening with a discerning ear is so important. 

When you “abide in Christ” you pray regularly and ponder over His word. What does a passage mean to you? How does it speak to you? Just reading it to say you read it is a supreme waste of time, for typically you’ll get NOTHING out of it.

Self-Reflection is a practice that Christians should practice regularly, for the enemy is relentless in his efforts to cause your faith to stagnate. Assess your walk with the Lord with the purpose of adjusting and thus, strengthening it from the inside out. That is a formula for success in your relationship 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

Quote Contemplations

“Don’t shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see him.” – C.S. Lewis

This quote emphasizes humility and becoming a reflection of our Lord rather than our own personal recognition.  It means that Christians should not live in a way that draws attention to themselves or seeks admiration. Instead, their lives should be so filled with Christ’s love, peace, and goodness—like a lamp shining in darkness—that others are naturally drawn to see and recognize Jesus through their actions and character. 

The core idea is that our light is not our own; it is the reflected light of Christ. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the sun’s light, believers shine by reflecting God’s glory. The goal is not self-promotion, but pointing others toward God. As Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The quote aligns itself with the biblical call urging spiritual authenticity thru selfless humility. It’s tied into a person’s integrity. A believer must be above reproach, morally and ethically consistent, and fully transparent. In spite of your beliefs, if you damage someone’s trust in you, you have single handedly shot a massive hole in your testimony. The problem is that the unsaved seem to think Christians are or at least should be perfect. Nothing could be further from the truth. Believers in Christ are no different than the unsaved with the exception that they are forgiven by Almighty God and in right standing with Him, while the unsaved are not. 

So if you’re a follower of Christ, guard your witness and make sure to shine your light heavenward, rather than on yourself, because frankly speaking, we are nothing without the Lord. I mean that in the broadest spiritual sense. Obviously we ARE something, but when you are not a child of God you are a spiritual orphan with no direction. The greatest navigation system cannot take you where God wishes you to go.  Without Him you don’t have the slightest clue.  Follow the light that IS God and reveal Him to the unredeemed masses. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.ibelieve.com/christianliving