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

Taking a Look at Scripture

“So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.” - James 1:21 (AMP)

            James is writing his letter to the converted Jews that lived outside the Palestinian community in around AD 49. Its purpose was to shine a light on the hypocritical practices within the body of Christ. His goal was to teach them correct Christian behavior. He encourages them to GET RID of all their wrong actions and practices, which provides for a spiritual transformation. Instead, with all humbleness, receive God’s Word. The humbleness we are to display is akin to meekness or gentleness. We must allow that humble spirit to take root in our hearts. This act of laying aside moral filthiness & all sorts of wickedness must be a deliberate act. One that treats sin as an external garment that can be tossed away rather than internalized.    

            By internalizing God’s Word we then can call on it to help shape our life, but we cannot simply listen to it. Listen to verse 22. “But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourself.” Verses 23 & 24 continue on with an illustration. “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” Don’t allow yourself to be that person. Live out God’s Word daily with the help of the Holy Spirit within you. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Taking a Look at Scripture

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.” – Titus 1:16 NIV

 

            Titus was a Greek who was probably converted to Christianity thru Paul’s ministry. His responsibility was the supervision of the churches on the isle of Crete. He was sent by Paul to both organize and oversee the churches started by the apostle. 

            One of the problems that the early church had to deal with was the rise in false teaching. These teachers had theoretical knowledge of God, yet didn’t have a genuine spiritual relationship with him. The actions of these spreaders of lies show that they are not truly who they pretend to be.

            Titus goes on in chapter 2 to describe what righteous living looks like. Verses 1-2 speak of wholesome teaching being done within the church, promoting the exercise of self-control, living wisely, and living so that they are worthy of respect within the body. 

            Even today there are purveyors of falsehoods regarding what it means to follow Christ. As believers we must know WHAT we believe and WHY we believe it so as to thwart any attempt by the enemy to draw us out of the community of believers. Stay focused on Christ and serving him so you don’t become susceptible to false teachings. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Some folks just seem to gripe all the time. They’re just never satisfied with anything in your life. I catch myself getting gripey from time to time and remind myself that no matter what my situation may happen to be things could always be worse, much worse. If you doubt that just turn on the news. 

Evil is on the rise, and things seem to be out of control, but again I remind myself that GOD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE AND PRAYER CHANGES THINGS. With prayer any set of circumstances can change in a literal instant. GOD is in control, not man. Remember, God either causes or allows all that takes place in this world. Factored into that is the fact that God has given mortal man a free will to do as he or she pleases. Many good choices have been made throughout the centuries; however, history shows that many bad choices have also been made resulting in the world we now live in. 

God has the final say regarding anything and everything that is to transpire, so we truly have nothing to gripe about. We must learn to be like the apostle Paul. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” [Philippians 4:11-13 NIV] 

Complaining is a waste of breath. Chances are you will be unable to alter that thing you are complaining about. So learn to be content in whatever situation you happen to be in. You’ll be happier in the long run. Face it, more money isn’t the answer, more friends isn’t, a bigger house isn’t, a nicer car isn’t... nothing can stop your downward spiral but YOU with the help of the Holy Spirit within you. For those who haven’t surrendered to Christ and been forgiven, your only hope in this sin-sick world is to turn to God. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries