Quote Contemplations 8

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan*

 

            This statement emphasizes the importance of meaningful success over superficial achievement.  It suggests that the real danger isn’t failing to achieve a goal, but instead succeeding in pursuits that lack lasting value, personal fulfillment, or spiritual significance.  It challenges conventional views of success and failure, urging a deeper reflection on purpose and priorities.

The quote is often linked to Chan’s book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, where he challenges individuals and churches to focus on what truly matters—aligning their lives with deeper purpose, values, and divine calling rather than chasing worldly recognition or empty accomplishments.  The book explains that failure is not the worst outcome—it can be a teacher and a step toward growth. 

Meaningless success is far more dangerous: achieving goals that bring status, wealth, or recognition but lack eternal or moral significance. Pursuits that don’t truly matter often lack alignment with your core values and fail to contribute to a deeper sense of purpose.  They tend to be driven by external validation, societal expectations, or short-term pleasure rather than lasting meaning. For example, someone might climb the corporate ladder, earn wealth, and gain praise, yet neglect their family, health, or moral convictions—ultimately feeling empty despite outward success.

Ultimately, meaningful success feels sustainable and deeply personal—it’s not about achieving a socially prescribed standard, but about feeling aligned, fulfilled, and at peace with the life you're building each day. Spiritual principles that guide purposeful living are rooted in meaning, ethical conduct, and connection to something greater than oneself.  These principles help align actions with deeper values, fostering a life of significance over superficial success.

So to summarize, true success is measured not by external achievements, but by alignment with deeper values, such as love, service, integrity, and spiritual purpose.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: www.goodreads.com, www.reddit.com, www.allauthors.com

*Francis Chan (born August 31, 1967) is an American Protestant author, teacher, & preacher.

Quote Contemplations 7

“While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered his authority.” – A.W. Tozer

         Do you understand that because God is sovereign, as in One that exercises supreme, permanent authority, He either causes or allows all that transpires in His world? That sovereignty involves both His direct action and / or His permission. David says in his 24^th Psalm, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” The gospel of Matthew tells us this about God: “...not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” There is nothing He isn’t aware of. 

            Now this being the case both good and evil events are included in all that. God actively wills certain things, such as creation and salvation, and permits other things, such as human sin, suffering, and evil, though He isn’t the author or originator of evil. 

            The Lord has given each person a free will to choose that which they think, say, and do, meaning that some can and will make decisions that are harmful to themselves and to others. While these events are within God’s overall control, He doesn’t cause them to take place. The Lord allows evil forces, led by Satan, to operate in the earthly realm, which he has been given dominion over.

            “'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 a hope and a future. '” — Jeremiah 29:11. First of all, this verse lets us know that God knew you in the past, He knows you now and also where you’re headed and what you’ll be involved in. For the believer, the Lord has filled you with His presence in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit can lead and guide you where the Lord knows you will prosper the most. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that the word “prosper” means God will make you rich. You may become wealthy, but that is NOT necessarily in God’s plan for you. His desire is that you prosper SPIRITUALLY.  So you see, while God doesn’t CAUSE suffering, He is able to use it for your ultimate good. I understand that must be hard to see and understand, but you must TRUST Him. If you refuse to trust Him in the tough times, why trust Him at all?

            Here are two examples of evil that appeared to triumph, yet good came out of it. Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”Joseph’s brother betrayed him by selling him to slave merchants. The above verse is Joseph speaking to his brothers after the entire ordeal was over. In Acts 2:23, Peter speaks to a crowd and reveals the following – “...God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.”

            While God doesn’t cause evil things to take place, His overall authority over His creation allows events to unfold and brings good from them. That is a viable demonstration of His POWER, WISDOM, and LOVE. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries        

            

Thoughts from a Random Mind

A Commitment is Needed

            The unsaved want the benefits of being a Christian without paying for it. Christ paid the price, but the unsaved balk at making any commitment to the One who paid. Make no mistake about it, salvation IS NOT FREE. It came with a cost attached. No one on this earth is able to pay that cost. It’s like having a debt that was SO BIG that you couldn’t ever pay it off in this lifetime. Knowing that, God sent the One person who alone could pay off EVERYONE’S debt with one lone action. Blood was required. Jesus gave His unto death. He did that for all of mankind, whom He created. That is love, unmatched by anyone else in all of creation. So, when you say you are a Christian, please understand the price paid for freedom from your sin and commit to knowing the One a little more each day. He alone is the Ohe who paid the debt we owed but couldn’t pay. Those who are truly His followers will make a greater  commitment to serve Him. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What Does It Mean? - 'God is my portion'

            King David referred to God as his portion in Psalm 16:5: "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot." He echoed the same sentiment in Psalm 142:5. Asaph wrote that "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" in Psalm 73:26. Lamentations 3:24 says, "'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'" So, what does it mean that "God is my portion"? Sometimes the word "portion" is translated as "inheritance."Saying that God is your portion is another way of saying that He is your inheritance, your allotment in life. When we say that God is our portion, we are saying that He is our all-sufficient One, the source of all we could ever need. 

In the Old Testament, each Israelite tribe, minus the priestly tribe of Levi (Deuteronomy 10:9), received an allotment of land upon arrival in the Promised Land (Numbers 26:52–56; Joshua 14:1–5). This land was their family inheritance and was passed on from one generation to the next (Numbers 36:7). As was indicated with the tribe of Levi, another side to the concept of inheritance is that God Himself can be the inheritance of His people (see Jeremiah 10:16). "Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The LORD is his inheritance" (Deuteronomy 10:9). 

The New Testament furthers this by describing believers as co-heirs with Christ, the Son of God, for we have been grafted into the family of God. Through Jesus' redeeming work, we can become adopted as sons and daughters of God (John 1:12; Hebrews 1:2; Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7). The presence of the Holy Spirit within our lives is the guarantee of this "eternal inheritance" we have received (Ephesians 1:14; Hebrews 9:15). 

The Bible makes it clear that all people have the opportunity to become children of God and recipients of the same inheritance (Ephesians 3:6; John 3:16–18). What is the inheritance? The kingdom of God both now and forever (Matthew 25:34; Romans 8:17–23; 1 Corinthians 15:50–58; 1 Peter 1:3–4). This doesn't mean that the life of a believer in Christ is easy; it means we have the grace of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us as we journey through life, and we have the promise of eternity with Christ. God is the source of our sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5). Jesus says: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). This is what it looks like to choose to make the Lord your portion. 

By saying, "God is my portion," the biblical writers, and now us, are affirming that God is our source of all that is good. He is our portion in the life that is now (Psalm 142:5) and the life that is to come. He is the only inheritance that matters. Relationships, riches, jobs, health, and all other things in our lives may fail, but we can say with confidence that "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26, NASB). When God is our portion, we lack nothing for we have a never-ending supply of hope (Lamentations 3:24). 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.compellingtruth.org

Currency in a Bankrupt World

           Let’s face it. At one time or another we all face some sort of catastrophic event in our life. Whether it is literally catastrophic or just feels that way to us, there is hope left in a bankrupt world. That hope comes in the form of a man who walked the earth over 2000 years ago. Hard to believe, then you haven’t met Jesus.

            Whether you have a personal relationship with Almighty God or not, hope is universal because God loves everyone in His creation and He loves them unconditionally. It doesn’t matter what has befallen you, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and trust me when I tell you it is NOT an oncoming train. That light is God’s glory beckoning you to come to Him. 

            Some of us commit some terrible sins which we’re sure God will never forgive, but you are wrong. NOTHING can separate us from His undying and unwavering love for us all. ^[1] Our hope comes when we release our white knuckled clench on our own life and let God take the wheel. Our hope comes when we begin to realize that we CANNOT live this life alone. We need a Savior, who shall also be Lord of our life.

            This world is indeed bankrupt in every sense of the word. While it may not be bankrupt in a financial sense just yet, it IS bankrupt morally, ethically, and spiritually. The soul remedy that can save mankind is being Born Again of the Spirit of God. ^[2] It’s a decision that every man, woman, and child must make at some point in their life. There IS currency of a Godly nature in this bankrupt world. Cash in on it now.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] “...I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love... nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ^{[Romans 8:38a, 39b]}

^[2] “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’ ^{[John 3:3-7 Amp]}

            

What is Your Motivation?

            “In religion, we try to obey the divine standards out of fear. We believe that if we don’t obey we are going to lose God’s blessing in this world and the next. In the gospel, the motivation is one of gratitude for the blessing we have already received because of Christ. While the moralist is forced into obedience, motivated by fear of rejection, a Christian rushes into obedience, motivated by a desire to please and resemble the one who gave his life for us.” ^[1]

                  Do you serve God because you feel you have to, or do you serve Him because you want to? “Religion” is going to church because you feel you must. Following the prescribed liturgy, singing the songs, paying your obligatory offering, then leaving to enjoy the rest of the day. The Gospel, whose base line is a personal, intimate relationship with Almighty God, causes your desire to become altered from “have to” to “want to”. We go to a building to worship our Lord, praise His name, become charged with a bible based message, stay around after to fellowship with the brethren. Do not mistake this fact: YOU are the church. The edifice is nothing more than a building. YOU make it alive. It’s not because we MUST do these things, but just as Christ willingly went to the cross for us, we WILLINGLY go to show our God that we are extremely grateful for all that has been done for us.  What is your motivation? Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Taken from The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

Not For Sale

          You cannot buy your way into God’s heaven, nor can you work your way in. No matter how good of a salesman you may happen to be, there is nothing you can say that will cause God to let you into His heaven. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN but receive Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior. Too many people seem to think that if they are just a good enough person they just might be able to get into heaven, but it doesn’t work that way. You can’t GET into heaven; you have to be invited in and your ticket for entrance rests in your full acceptance of Christ’s death on a criminal’s cross. You see it’s all about the blood. His blood. He shed His own blood willingly for that blood was required as payment for all of mankind’s sins & indiscretions.

            Perhaps you are what could be classified as a “Christian in name only”. That would be a person who refers to themselves as Christian, yet doesn’t live a life that exhibits any of the recognizable behavioral traits that the Bible lays out. In other words, they don’t practice what the title implies. That being said, this post is for you as well. Just because you call yourself a Christian doesn’t necessarily mean you are one. It’s not about you. It has never been about you. It’s about Almighty God and His plan of salvation. We are invited to begin an intimate, personal relationship with the creator of the world and everything in it. Perhaps you didn’t realize that, but how else would you truly know God without spending time with Him. What type of relationship would you have with your spouse if you lived separately, thousands miles apart? I dare say not a very good one. Why wouldn’t the same criteria apply to a relationship with God? 

            God loves you more than you will ever know. There is no love on this earth that would be comparable to His. Sell out to Almighty God. The benefits vastly outweigh the negatives; especially since the negatives are an illusion concocted by Satan and are not real. This relationship with God isn’t something receive by osmosis and you aren’t born with it. It takes your consent and a “want to” regarding the effort you pour into it. 

            “Matthew 7:23 contains Jesus’ solemn warning: ‘Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!'" “Jesus is not rejecting genuine believers, but exposing hypocrisy. Many will claim to know Him—prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles—but their actions reveal a heart not truly aligned with God.  The phrase "I never knew you" means Jesus never recognized them as His true followers...  because they never truly knew Him through faith and obedience.” ^[1]

            Shed your façade and get real with yourself. Jesus is the only way. Surrender to the will of Almighty God and be free of the bondage of sin. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] www.biblestudytools.com