Thoughts from a Random Mind

            Do you understand that there is nothing you can do to gain God’s favor? Do you know that you are totally unworthy of His grace and mercy? Scripture says ALL fall short of the mark for ALL are overrun by sin. Once redeemed there is still nothing you can do to gain God’s favor. God doesn’t love you because you are worthy of His love, you are worthy of His love because He is gracious. 

Grace is UNDESERVED FAVOR. GRACE stands for “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense”. All of mankind is worthy of hell fire, but by God’s unfailing mercy and love for His creation we are all given the opportunity to shed our sin skin and rise up as a NEW CREATION in Christ. If you’ve already made the choice to follow and serve Christ than nothing can take that salvation away from you. Your soul has been bought and paid for by Christ’s blood.  If you haven’t decided to follow Christ yet what on earth are you waiting for? This world of sin and sorrow offers NOTHING of any lasting value. The trinkets this world offers us are worthless in God’s eyes. You can’t be good enough to get into heaven. Jesus said there’s NO ONE who is good except the Father. Salvation isn’t something you EARN. No. It is a free gift bought with blood. Eternity hangs in the balance. Prior to redemption we walk a tightrope between heaven and hell. Once redeemed that tightrope becomes a bridge made from the wooden cross on which Christ was crucified. That bridge will take you all the way to where God is in heaven. Live for Christ and have no regrets.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Life sure can be frustrating, what with all the lies and corruption in the world. Immoral and unethical behavior have permeated our world. It can drive a well-grounded follower of Christ to distraction. I’ve begun to hate watching the news. NO GOOD NEWS. But that raises an important question… why am I looking for good news in an ungodly world? The enemy likes things just the way they are and revels in it. However, once the dust settles amid the chaos we see that God is STILL ON HIS THRONE and in control of ALL THINGS that transpire. He causes or allows all things for his own purposes. If we walk closely with him then we truly have NOTHING TO FEAR.

Having said that I know that fear is purely a mental thing. I know because I’ve struggled with anxiety since the 1980’s. I make it thru life with two different medications. I also deal with claustrophobia. It keeps me from doing certain things. I used to be embarrassed being a Christian and dealing with these problems, but I’m not embarrassed any longer. I’m a human being, just like everybody else. I’m not superman because I’m saved. I’ve had little victories dealing with anxious moments as I prayed my way thru them. The mental part can be difficult to combat. It’s a war for the psyche of men. Our ability to reason is under attack by the one who will literally do anything to screw with us. 

Because I have these issues come up from time to time does that make me a poor Christian? Absolutely not. I used to think so until I realized it had no bearing on my relationship with the Lord whatsoever. The Lord knows all the intricacies regarding our lives. As a matter of fact there is NOTHING the Lord doesn’t know about you. I know for a fact that God DOES NOT ever say, “You have problems with anxiety? Get that fixed then come back to see me.” NEVER - NEVER - NEVER... God never turns us away. He loves and accepts us JUST the way we are. He made us, he knows how we’re fearfully & wonderfully made. When you’re afraid, give it over to the Lord. It works. Trust God. 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

            It seems to me that simple common courtesies are becoming extinct. Hold a door for someone. Greeting a person with a cheery disposition. Paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line whether you know them or not. Giving others the right of way on the road. You just don’t see that sort of thing much anymore. At least not in New Jersey.

            Now I realize that is what I refer to as a broad sweeping generalization. Just because I don’t happen to see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, but as far as I’m concerned you really have to look for it to find it. Shouldn’t it be commonplace or is that asking too much?

            As a believer in Christ I believe it’s something Jesus would do. My father taught me to treat all people with respect, especially women. Common courtesy was nestled in those lessons. So perhaps it’s lacking because parents just don’t take the time to impart it to their kids. Or maybe they took the time, but the kids blew it off as unimportant. I don’t really know, but I DO know that when you perform a common courtesy for someone, they appreciate it, almost as if they thought it had died out as well. But an old dinosaur like me still looks to bless others every chance I get. It costs nothing to be kind, but the dividends can be enormous. It could start a revolution of sorts just like it the movie “Paying It Forward”. * Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*The movie Pay It Forward, with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt & Haley Joel Osment, came out in the fall of 2000. It was a Warner Bros. film. Great movie ... if you haven’t seen it check it out. You won’t be sorry.

Taking a Look at Scripture

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” - Psalm 37:3-5 NLT

            Let’s first look that the definition for the word “trust”.  Trust is the “firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance in that person or thing.” In this particular case the “person”happens to be Almighty God. Here we see advice to those whose hearts are towards God.  

We are seeing another “if-then” clause, even though the word “if” isn’t being used here. For all intents and purposes you could really slide it in the beginning of the verse so it reads – “IF you trust the Lord and do good, THEN you will live safely in the land and prosper.”

Prosperity isn’t always referring to financial gain. In God’s realm prosperity is tied directly to spiritual growth and maturity; growing in the things of the Lord. Money is temporal; here today and gone tomorrow. The accumulation of monetary wealth, while not intrinsically wrong, is NOT what is important in God’s kingdom. 

A lot of people misinterpret the next sentence. Delight in the Lord & he will give you whatever your heart desires. Our heart has the potential to deceive us. I believe it is implied that our heart’s desires should be linked to our intimate relationship with the Lord. In other words, I wouldn’t expect to receive a brand new Maserati or other sports car because you know the Lord and have a heartfelt desire to own one. It’s not going to happen. I mean you can MAKE it happen by going deep in debt by buying one, but the consequences of that decision could crush you in the long run financially. No, I believe it’s safe to say that God is hoping you’ve matured enough as a follower of Christ that your heart’s desire should have something to do with drawing closer to him in some way. Aside from spiritually growth and maturity, it seems to me that the Lord isn’t terribly interested in some of the crazy things we feel we have to have. Just sayin’...

Whatever you do in this life, commit it to God. Your schoolwork, your job performance, your responsibilities as a husband or wife, father or mother. These things are vital to your existence in this life as you serve Christ. Again the word “trust” comes into play. As you strive to commit every aspect of your life to the Lord, trust him and he WILL help you. It’s a promise.

As a matter of fact it’s 1 of 3 promises God makes to us in these verses. 

            We trust in a lot of crazy things in this life. Trust in God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Dictionary used is the American Heritage Dictionary.

Note: Psalm 37 is a Psalm of David.

Taking a Look at Scripture

“It is better to be godly & have little than to be evil & rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.” – Psalm 37:16-17 NLT

                  Do not envy the wealth of the unsaved, for everything in this world is temporal. If it were not true than we’d only have to buy one of everything as it would last forever, but that isn’t the case is it? Companies wouldn’t be able to stay in business if people only bought one item and never had to replace it. 

            Do not be attracted to the shiny baubles or glittery jewels. The enemy does his best to lure you into striving after such things, but there is no future in it. True perpetual peace and satisfaction only comes from knowing the Lord. 

A question for nonbelievers - If you don’t know the Lord then realistically how can you speak against him. By regurgitating falsehoods you have bought into? Does your curiosity go no deeper than that? Is the concept of digging for nuggets of truth that foreign to you or are you just spiritually lazy? 

            There is a serious movement against Christianity. Not against ANY other religion, just the one true God and his Son Jesus. Some non-believers feel we’re out to conquer the world, forcing people to convert to our way of thinking. That is completely false. The free will God allows his creation gives us all the right to believe whatever way we choose. Then he shows all thru his word a better way to live. Accept it or reject it, that’s an individuals choice. 

            Justice WILL come for the evil ones of the earth. Retribution is coming for those who have blasphemed against the Most High God. A reckoning of sorts. In this sin-sick world evil has received NO consequences due to the corrupt evil that exists throughout the globe. But permanent and eternal consequences originating directly from God’s throne IS coming. NO evil shall escape the wrath of our Holy God.  Live a Godly life for He will take good care of us all. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Scripture

“Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”  - Psalm 37:25 NLT     

 

            There is something that King David knew. He knew from his Jewish heritage growing up that one of God’s names was “Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides”. David also knew that the Lord didn’t provide sometimes and not other times. He knew that God had a covenant with his people to provide for them in good times and bad as long as they faithfully served him. Once they turned their collective backs on God, which they did multiple times thru the years, the blessings stopped along with the provisions.

            David drew from his years of life experience when he uttered the words above. The verse previous to our text revealed to the reader that though his children may stumble, they will never fall and the reason given for that is that the Lord upholds his children with his own hand. David trusted his God. We are to trust our God as well, regardless of our circumstances. God provides whatever we truly need when it is needed the most. That will require faith AND trust in him to do as he has promised in his Word. 

            There is no record throughout scripture where Almighty God has failed. There is no failure in him. He doesn’t make mistakes or miscalculations. He is perfect in every way. Past performance is evidence of that fact. It is not a theory, as with science or evolution, for prophecies have been made and fulfilled throughout the ages; however, men failed to see and accept these things as facts. Trust God. Where else can we go to find the truth? Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at Scripture

“Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.” – Mark 8:31 NLT

 

            This verse redefined who the Messiah would be. The disciples expected a political liberator instead of a suffering servant figure. The Jewish people wanted to be freed from being under the thumb of the Roman Empire, but this was not what God had in mind. The plan was on a universal scale and not a limited, individualistic scale that only aided the immediate situation of the Jewish people of Jesus day.

            The suffering Jesus was destined to endure was foreordained by God and predicted in Isaiah 53 of the OT. Christ’s death would be a substitutionary one that would atone for the sins of all of mankind.

            Mark 8:31 represents the first of three predictions of Christ’s death in Mark’s Gospel. You can be sure that his disciples were not at all prepared to hear of the Lord’s death, in spite of the fact that his statement ended with him rising from his tomb alive again. Killing an innocent man to stop the proselytization of their own beliefs was hardly a reason to commit murder, but the religious leaders didn’t see Jesus as the Messiah. They also saw him as a blasphemer which was punishable by death. God had other plans that involved Christ returning to heaven and observe his followers fulfill their mission to share the teachings of the Lord throughout the known world at that time.

            Take notice of the word “must” in the beginning of verse 31. That one word controls the entire statement.  That which was to take place was non-negotiable. It was divinely necessary for Christ to suffer and die. It should be no surprise that Jesus spoke in terms of suffering. He saw what happened to John the Baptist and also knew that there was a growing antagonistic sentiment against him. Since he was trained as a Rabbi Jesus would have had to memorize the entire OT and would have thus been intimately familiar with Isaiah 53, the Suffering Servant. His obedience is the reason we as followers of Christ shall live in heaven with Almighty God for all eternity. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/mark/8_31-33.htm