God’s Most Important Healing

Isaiah 53:5, which is then quoted in 1 Peter 2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and misapplied. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." The word translated "healed" can mean either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being "healed" in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not physically healed.

The Bible does not specifically link physical healing with spiritual healing. Sometimes people are physically healed when they place their faith in Christ, but this is not always the case. Sometimes it is God's will to heal, but sometimes it is not. The apostle John gives us the proper perspective: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). God still performs miracles. God still heals people. Sickness, disease, pain, and death are still realities in this world. Unless the Lord returns, everyone who is alive today will die, and the vast majority of them (Christians included) will die as the result of a physical problem (disease, sickness, injury). It is not always God's will to heal us physically.

Ultimately, our full physical healing awaits us in heaven. In heaven, there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering, or death (Revelation 21). Whether or not God grants us physical healing in this world, we can trust His goodness and focus our hope on heaven where we will no longer have to deal with physical problems. Revelation 21:4 describes the true healing we all long for: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

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

Finite vs. Infinite

“I love you to the moon & back.”

“I love you to infinity & beyond.”         

One is a finite statement, and one is an infinite statement. This world is finite. It has a beginning and an end, although we don’t know when that end will come. We don’t know if it will be instantaneous or a prolonged event. We cannot know the future, regardless of it’s unknown nature. Being the author of time, and being omniscient, as in knowing all things that can be known, God knows the future and the past and is IN the present. He is the first and the last; the Alpha & Omega; the beginning and the end *.

            Creation is considered finite because it is limited. It doesn’t go on forever. It has boundaries. We exist for a limited amount of time, as orchestrated by Almighty God. Knowing this we must understand that we have a certain amount of time to commit our lives to Christ. In God’s orchestration He has set up a certain time, known only to Him, when Christ will return & the precise time when a new heaven & a new earth will descend from the skies.  Once the heavenly trumpet sounds and time is no more, you will have locked in your selection. You decide. You either choose to follow Christ or you don’t. THAT one decision will shape your eternity. And once your choice has been locked in it is irreversible. No ‘do overs’. The stage is set. 

            It may seem difficult to assimilate all there is to know about the whole finite vs. infinite issue; however, I think the infinite side of the issue is more difficult to understand. It would seem that finite would be more easily understood because it is where we exist. We base our existence on time established in a world with a beginning and an end. 

Infinity cannot be contained. It is endless, limitless. It is where God exists and where we will be going. To an endless existence where no sun, moon and stars will be needed, for the glory of God will light up the heavens. We can only imagine what eternity will be like, based on statements made and verses written. We see cinematic artistry attempting to portray the heavenlies. But no one truly knows what awaits us. 

There is a stark difference between something or someone being either finite or infinite. It’s like having a limited shelf life compared to lasting forever. Mankind is finite now, but will live forever in either heaven or hell. God doesn’t assign to us our eternal home, man does by the decisions he makes in this life.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries  

*To clarify, though God simply exists, He doesn’t have a beginning or an end because He is outside of the element of time as explained in another recent post. God being “the beginning and the end” is a statement in relation to His creation. To us, His beginning was when our beginning took place. 

What is God’s relationship to time?

We live in a physical world with its four known space-time dimensions of length, width, height (or depth) and time. However, God dwells in a different realm—the spirit realm—beyond the perception of our physical senses. It’s not that God isn’t real; it’s a matter of His not being limited by the physical laws and dimensions that govern our world (Isaiah 57:15). Knowing that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), what is His relationship to time?

In Psalm 90:4, Moses used a simple yet profound analogy in describing the timelessness of God: “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” The eternity of God is contrasted with the temporality of man. Our lives are but short and frail, but God does not weaken or fail with the passage of time.

In a sense, the marking of time is irrelevant to God because He transcends it. Peter, in 2 Peter 3:8, cautioned his readers not to let this one critical fact escape their notice—that God’s perspective on time is far different from mankind’s (Psalm 102:12, 24-27). The Lord does not count time as we do. He is above and outside of the sphere of time. God sees all of eternity’s past and eternity’s future. The time that passes on earth is of no consequence from God’s timeless perspective. A second is no different from an eon; a billion years pass like seconds to the eternal God.

Though we cannot possibly comprehend this idea of eternity or the timelessness of God, we in our finite minds try to confine an infinite God to our time schedule. Those who foolishly demand that God operate according to their time frame ignore the fact that He is the “High and Lofty One . . . who lives forever” (Isaiah 57:15). This description of God is far removed from man’s condition: “The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

Again, because of our finite minds, we can only grasp the concept of God’s timeless existence in part. And in so doing, we describe Him as a God without a beginning or end, eternal, infinite, everlasting, etc. Psalm 90:2 declares, “From everlasting to everlasting You are God” (see also Psalm 93:2). He always was and always will be.

So, what is time? To put it simply, time is duration. Our clocks mark change or, more precisely, our timepieces are benchmarks of change that indicate the passage of time. We could say, then, that time is a necessary precondition for change and change is a sufficient condition to establish the passage of time. In other words, whenever there’s change of any kind we know that time has passed. We see this as we go through life, as we age. And we cannot recover the minutes that have passed by.

Additionally, the science of physics tells us that time is a property resulting from the existence of matter. As such, time exists when matter exists. But God is not matter; God, in fact, created matter. The bottom line is this: time began when God created the universe. Before that, God was simply existing. Since there was no matter, and because God does not change, time had no existence and therefore no meaning, no relation to Him.

And this brings us to the meaning of the word eternity. Eternity is a term used to express the concept of something that has no end and/or no beginning. God has no beginning or end, but He cannot be wholly defined by eternity, especially as a measure of time. (God is eternal, but eternity does not equal God. Similarly, God is all-powerful, but power does not equal God.) Eternity is one of God’s attributes, but, having created time, He is greater than time and exists outside of it.

Scripture reveals that God lives outside the bounds of time as we know it. Our destiny was planned “before the beginning of time” (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2) and “before the creation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20). “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). In other words, the physical universe we see, hear, feel and experience was created not from existing matter, but from a source independent of the physical dimensions we can perceive.

“God is spirit” (John 4:24), and, correspondingly, God is timeless rather than being eternally in time or being beyond time. Time was simply created by God as a limited part of His creation for accommodating the workings of His purpose in His disposable universe (see 2 Peter 3:10-12).

Upon the completion of His creation activity, including the creation of time, what did God conclude? “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gen 1:31). Indeed, God is spirit in the realm of timelessness, rather than flesh in the sphere of time.

As believers, we have a deep sense of comfort knowing that God, though timeless and eternal, is in time with us right now; He is not unreachably transcendent, but right here in this moment with us. And because He’s in this moment, He can respond to our needs and prayers.

                  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

Where Did Jesus Go When He Died?

This is another article from www.gotquestions.org.

 

There is a great deal of confusion regarding this question. The concept that Jesus went to hell after His death on the cross comes primarily from the Apostles’ Creed, which states, “He descended into hell.” There are also a few Scripture passages that, depending on how they are translated, describe Jesus going to “hell.” In studying this issue, it is important to first understand what the Bible teaches about the realm of the dead.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is sheol. It simply means “the place of the dead” or “the place of departed souls/spirits.” The New Testament Greek equivalent of sheol is hades, which also refers to “the place of the dead.” The New Testament indicates that sheol/hades is a temporary place, where souls are kept as they await the final resurrection and judgment. Revelation 20:11–15 makes a clear distinction between hades and the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost. Hades, then, is a temporary place. Many people refer to both hades and the lake of fire as “hell,” and this causes confusion. Jesus did not go to a place of torment after His death, but He did go to hades.

Sheol/hades is a realm with two divisions—a place of blessing and a place of judgment (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27–31). The abodes of the saved and the lost are both generally called “hades” in the Bible. The abode of the saved is also called “Abraham’s bosom” (KJV) or “Abraham’s side” (NIV) in Luke 16:22 and “paradise” in Luke 23:43. The abodes of the saved and the lost are separated by a “great chasm” (Luke 16:26). When Jesus died, He went to the blessed side of sheol, or paradise. All the unbelieving dead go to the cursed side of hades to await the final judgment. All the believing dead go to the blessed side of hades to await the resurrection. Did Jesus go to sheol/hades? Yes, according to Jesus’ own words, He went to the blessed region of sheol.

Some of the confusion has arisen from such passages as Psalm 16:10–11 as translated in the King James Version: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. . . . Thou wilt show me the path of life.” “Hell” is not a correct translation in this verse. A correct reading would be “the grave” or “sheol.” Jesus said to the thief beside Him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43); He did not say, “I will see you in hell.” Jesus’ body was in the tomb; His soul/spirit went to be with the blessed in sheol/hades. Unfortunately, in many versions of the Bible, translators are not consistent, or correct, in how they translate the Hebrew and Greek words for “sheol,” “hades,” and “hell.”

Some have the viewpoint that Jesus went to “hell” or the suffering side of sheol/hades in order to further be punished for our sins. This idea is completely unbiblical. It was the death of Jesus on the cross that sufficiently provided for our redemption. It was His shed blood that effected our own cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7–9). As He hung there on the cross, He took the sin burden of the whole human race upon Himself. He became sin for us: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This imputation of sin helps us understand Christ’s struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane with the cup of sin that He asked to pass from Him (Matthew 26:39).

As Jesus neared death, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). His suffering in our place was completed. His soul/spirit went to hades (the place of the dead). Jesus did not go to “hell” or the suffering side of hades; He went to “Abraham’s side” or the blessed side of hades. Jesus’ suffering ended the moment He died. The payment for sin was paid. He then awaited the resurrection of His body and His return to glory in His ascension. Did Jesus go to hell? No. Did Jesus go to sheol/hades? Yes.

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

How does God distribute spiritual gifts?

This article from www.gotquestions.org explains how Spiritual Gifts are disseminated among the brethren.

  

Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12 make it clear that each Christian is given spiritual gifts according to the Lord’s choice. Spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12). The exact timing of the giving of these gifts is not specifically mentioned. Most assume that spiritual gifts are given at the time of spiritual birth (the moment of salvation). However, there are some verses that may indicate God gives spiritual gifts later as well. Both 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 refer to a gift that Timothy had received at the time of his ordination “by prophecy.” This likely indicates that one of the elders at Timothy’s ordination spoke about a spiritual gift that Timothy would have to enable his future ministry.

                  We are also told in 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 and in 1 Corinthians 14:12-13 that it is God (not us) who chooses the gifts. These passages also indicate that not everyone will have a particular gift. Paul tells the Corinthian believers that if they are going to covet or long after spiritual gifts, they should strive after the more edifying gifts, such as prophesying (speaking forth the word of God for the building up of others). Now, why would Paul tell them to strongly desire the “greater” gifts if they already had been given all they would be given, and there was no further opportunity of gaining these greater gifts? It may lead one to believe that even as Solomon sought wisdom from God in order to be a good ruler over God’s people, so God will grant to us those gifts we need in order to be of greater benefit to His church. 

Having said this, it still remains that these gifts are distributed according to God’s choosing, not our own. If every Corinthian strongly desired a particular gift, such as prophesying, God would not give everyone that gift simply because they strongly desired it. If He did, then who would serve in all of the other functions of the body of Christ? 

There is one thing that is abundantly clear—God’s command is God’s enablement. If God commands us to do something (such as witness, love the unlovely, disciple the nations, etc.), He will enable us to do it. Some may not be as gifted at evangelism as others, but God commands all Christians to witness and disciple (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). We are all called to evangelize whether or not we have the spiritual gift of evangelism. A determined Christian who strives to learn the Word and develop his teaching ability may become a better teacher than one who may have the spiritual gift of teaching, but who neglects the gift. 

Are spiritual gifts given to us when we receive Christ, or are they cultivated through our walk with God? The answer is both. Normally, spiritual gifts are given at salvation, but also need to be cultivated through spiritual growth. Can a desire in your heart be pursued and developed into your spiritual gift? Can you seek after certain spiritual gifts? First Corinthians 12:31 seems to indicate that this is possible: “earnestly desire the best gifts.” You can seek a spiritual gift from God and be zealous after it by seeking to develop that area. At the same time, if it is not God’s will, you will not receive a certain spiritual gift no matter how strongly you seek after it. God is infinitely wise, and He knows through which gifts you will be most productive for His kingdom.

No matter how much we have been gifted with one gift or another, we are all called upon to develop a number of areas mentioned in the lists of spiritual gifts: to be hospitable, to show acts of mercy, to serve one another, to evangelize, etc. As we seek to serve God out of love for the purpose of building up others for His glory, He will bring glory to His name, grow His church, and reward us (1 Corinthians 3:5-8, 12:31–14:1). God promises that as we make Him our delight, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4-5). This would surely include preparing us to serve Him in a way that will bring us purpose and satisfaction. 

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.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts.html

How do I identify my spiritual gift(s)?

            There is no magic formula or definitive test that can tell us exactly what our spiritual gifts are. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He so chooses (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). A common problem for Christians is the temptation to get so caught up in our spiritual gift that we only seek to serve God in the area in which we feel we have been gifted. That is not how the spiritual gifts work. God calls us to obediently serve Him in all things. He will equip us with whatever gift or gifts we need to accomplish the task He has called us to.

Identifying our spiritual giftedness can be accomplished in various ways. Spiritual gift tests, while not fully reliable, can help us understand where our gift(s) may lie. Confirmation from others can also verify our spiritual gift(s). Other people who see us serving the Lord can often identify a spiritual gift in us that we might take for granted or not recognize. Prayer is also important. The one person who knows exactly how we are spiritually gifted is the gift-giver Himself—the Holy Spirit. We can ask God to show us how we are gifted in order to better use our spiritual gifts for His glory.

Yes, God calls some to be teachers and gives them the gift of teaching. God calls some to be servants and blesses them with the gift of helps. However, specifically knowing our spiritual gift does not excuse us from serving God in areas outside our gifting. Is it beneficial to know what spiritual gift(s) God has given us? Of course it is. Is it a mistake to focus so much on spiritual gifts that we miss other opportunities to serve God? Yes. If we are dedicated to being used by God, He will equip us with the spiritual gifts we need. 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.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gift.html

 

The Mercy of God

            In the Bible, mercy is often described as a compassionate response, extending kindness and forbearance, even when justice might demand punishment. It's a quality of God, reflected in His dealings with humanity, and a call for believers to emulate His character in their relationships with others. 

The Bible portrays God as rich in mercy, demonstrating His compassion and love even for those who are undeserving. This is evident in His willingness to forgive sin, provide for the needy, and offer salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Scripture highlights instances where God shows mercy, such as the story of the Good Samaritan who extended help to a wounded traveler, regardless of his social status. Other examples include God's forgiveness of Israel's sins, His preservation of Noah during the flood, and ultimately, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, which is viewed as the ultimate act of mercy. 

The Bible encourages believers to imitate God's mercy by showing compassion and kindness to others, particularly those in need. This includes forgiving others, offering help, and treating everyone with respect and empathy. 

Being merciful is presented as a key aspect of Christian discipleship, reflecting a heart of compassion and a commitment to following Christ's example. 

The Bible emphasizes that God's mercy does not negate His justice; rather, it complements it. Mercy is seen as God's forbearance, His willingness to show compassion even when justice might demand punishment. 

In the New Testament, mercy is often associated with the concept of grace, God's unmerited favor extended to humanity through Jesus Christ. This grace is a manifestation of God's mercy, offering salvation to those who are unable to save themselves. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Abiding in Christ

 To "abide in Christ" means to live in a close, sustained relationship with Jesus Christ, characterized by faith, obedience, and a continuous dependence on Him for life and strength. It's not a temporary state but a way of life for believers. Abiding in Christ is synonymous with being saved, aka, being "in Christ".

Abiding in Christ means keeping Christ's commandments, including loving God and your neighbors. Allowing God's Word to SHAPE your mind, will, and affections is essential for abiding in Christ. It is recognizing Jesus as your source of all things godly, rather than a supplement. 

Both Christ and the believer are described as abiding in each other, signifying a close and intimate relationship. As mentioned above, abiding is not a one-time event but a daily practice of remaining connected to Jesus. 

As a branch on a vine, believers who abide in Christ bear fruit in their lives. Abiding in Christ is also described as "knowing"Him intimately. Our faith is bolstered by our continuously trusting in Jesus and His unconditional love for us. 

Regularly communicating with God is an important part of abiding in Christ. We should spend regular time meditating on God's Word. Only then can it help shape our lives. Engaging in fellowship with other believers helps us to make friendship bonds with others of like faith, which is important and is part of cultivating a close relationship with God. Make sure to regularly evaluate your relationship with Christ, pinpointing areas that need to grow spiritually. 

It's very important to abide in the Lord. He WANTS to spend time with each one of us, but we must be involved in that, or your faith may begin to wither. In a world where many unanswered questions have sent some believers renouncing their faith due to unbiblical influences, staying as close as possible to the Lord is imperative. 

Christianity has been under attack since Christ’s time. Today, those who are not well versed in scripture are the targets. Satan’s newest ploy to help bring about apostasy is the “Deconstruction Movement”, which is entering the forefront with its lies and innuendoes. They trample on truth because they have no answer for it, so they base their beliefs on how they feel about a certain biblical subjects. I’m digging into it now and will have a teaching on its dangers shortly.

Focus on the truth you had come to believe and seek answers to your questions from reliable sources. Not having an answer to something doesn’t make you bad, we are all ignorant of many things that are spoken of in scripture. Leaving the faith because we don’t have answers to pressing questions regarding doctrinal issues is foolish. Seek the answers, understanding that some questions will simply not be answered this side of heaven. Our faith is largely built on trust. We either believe God exists or we don’t. We either trust Him or we don’t. It’s YOUR choice.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Apostasy

No longer just an individual problem.

            Individuals can become apostate for of a variety of reasons, like unanswered questions and doctrinal doubts. But what happens when whole churches preach & teach socially acceptable thoughts instead of sticking to scripture?

            It’s so simple to just deny God’s existence or the infallibility of His Word. Question everything and base your set of beliefs on how you feel about various subjects. People get hooked up with a charismatic preacher, teacher, or traveling evangelist who speaks authoritatively on cultural, and / or socially acceptable topics to bring doubt to the masses that engage with them. 

            Things like homosexuality, gender-neutral wording, and evolution, when spoken with the proper authoritative rhetoric, can sway many to believe that which they had been told was ungodly isn’t at all. People can be spiritually lazy, in that they rely on others to spoon feed them biblical doctrine rather than dig for the truth on their own. Doubts regarding the existence of God or the validity of scripture are no doubt common, but that doesn’t scare or concern the Almighty One. That’s what our free will allows. 

            One thing that Christians need to learn is not to dog those who believe differently than us. We MUST reflect the true nature of Christ and not free wheel our approach based on anything other than love, compassion, and mercy. Making people aware of what we consider to be the truth is our mission. They have every right to reject what we, and by extension, God, has to say. But it behooves those seekers to diligently search high and low for the correct answer and not just AN answer. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Human Tongue

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” - James 3:3-6

            Just as one word from God can change one’s situation forever in a good way, one word from the mouth of a man can bring havoc, pain and in the end, destruction. Fortunately, we serve a God who understands us better than we understand ourselves. He is infinitely patient and kind, yet not hesitant to chide or punish when necessary to pull any one of us back onto the path He’s set for us.

                  The tongue is an interesting tool that is at our disposal 24/7 to say whatever our minds trigger us to say. What comes out depends almost entirely on what you feed in. The ever popular computer jargon “garbage in, garbage out” applies here. It only stands to reason that if you feed in things that are positive, loving, edifying, encouraging and Godly then that is what’s going to come out. How could it not? But feed in anger, hate, discord, profanity, pornography, and anything else THIS world has to offer, well, I think you can imagine what results you’d get.

                   “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ^{[Romans 12:2]}

We must allow our minds to be directed by the Holy Spirit. We must feed ourselves things that are pleasing to God. Only then can we expect the full measure of God’s mercy and grace to be realized in our lives.

                  We should definitely take the time to thank God for His infinite patience toward us. We are unequivocally unworthy of His favor; however, He has chosen to bathe us in His grace. Thank God He doesn’t act on our behalf based on what we deserve. Unmerited favor is what grace is all about. May we never treat it as a cheap thing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

Struggling with Sin?

You’re not alone

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. 

                  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”  “... letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. * But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” ^[1]

Take heart my dear brothers and sisters ... we battle sin every day, every one of us. Even the Apostle Paul struggled as evidenced in the portion of scripture above. However, if we trust God and place your focus on him daily as our personal leader and guide then we shall defeat sin in every quarter. Hear his word and act upon it to avoid the pain of falling into another sinful temptation. God is the answer to every important question. 

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

In his name & for his glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

* Not physical death, but rather spiritual death.

[1] Romans 7:14-25; 8:1-2, 6-8 NLT

Speak life, not death

“To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.” – Proverbs 25:12 New Living Translation

            Criticism for criticisms sake is unnecessary. Some folks simply like to criticize others. They don’t have a good word for anyone at anytime. It could be a reflection of their own life and situations that they are going thru, but one thing is for sure, they don‘t seem to see anything wrong with freely offering destructive criticism.

                  There is, however, such a thing as “valid” or constructive criticism. It is based on seeing someone doing something that is either being done wrong or could be done an easier way, just for example. Constructive criticism could be seeing bad behavior in action and trying to dissuade them from continuing. Either way, there is nothing wrong with valid criticism as long as it is done with grace and mercy. 

                  To constructively criticize someone is to encourage and edify by way of instruction. Those who offer criticism of correction are offering life-giving correction. If you keep your focus on Christ you will be more prone to the positive side of things then the negative. Offer life rather than suffocating the spirit in someone. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.biblegateway.com

Note:  “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” - Proverbs 15:31 New Living Translation

A Lesson from Samuel

“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.” 1 Samuel 8:5-7 New Living Translation

 

            1 Samuel 8:1-22 tells the story of Samuel, his sons & the people of Israel wanting a King like the surrounding nations. This falls under the category of ‘be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it’.  

                  Samuel was very old and his sons were not at all like him, in that they were greedy, accepting bribes & corrupting justice. The people saw this and instead of turning to God, asked Samuel for a King to rule over them just like the nations that surrounded them. This King, they reasoned, would rule over them and lead them into battle.  Samuel would not at all pleased with their request, considering it a major slap in the face. God recognized what was happening here and essentially said to Samuel give them what they want for they do not wish to have me rule over them any longer. 

                  The point of my looking at this portion of scripture from the Old Testament is that there are things and circumstances that we all wish to have or take place. We don’t pray about it, we just want it to happen so badly they we assume God would surely honor our request. I mean, why wouldn’t he? Doesn’t the Bible say God gives us the desires of our hearts? It is at that precise moment that we lose sight of what God may want for us and replace it with our own selfish wants.  The fact of the matter is that we cannot know all that God knows about our life. He created us and therefore knows us more intimately than we could ever know.  This is why it is imperative to lay everything before the Lord and wait.  God’s best is far greater than our biggest wants, desires and dreams and that is what he has planned for us, nothing but the absolute best.

                  So when you feel like there is something you either must have or a situation that you must have take place, remember the Israelites from 1^st Samuel and seek to determine what God’s will is in the situation. God has no particular timetable when it comes to what we want or don’t want. He knows the best time for his will to manifest itself in your life. So put your desires aside and rely on God to know what you truly need in this life. If your desires line up with his desires for you, then you can be confident it will come to pass. You have never been, nor shall you ever be short changed and some day you may be glad you never received what you felt you had to have. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!  

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.biblegateway.com

Why did God create us knowing we would sin?

God created humanity, knowing we would sin, to reveal the fullness of His character and love while demonstrating the power of His redemption. He established a relationship with us based on free will, allowing for the possibility of rebellion, so our love for Him would be genuine and meaningful (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). The fall of humanity did not surprise God; rather, it set the stage for the greatest act of love—the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for our sins (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:4–5). Through our struggles, God’s grace is magnified, teaching us dependence, humility, and the transformative power of His redemptive work (2 Corinthians 12:9; 5:17). Ultimately, God's plan is perfect, using our imperfections to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him and to reflect His glory to the world (Romans 8:28–30).

By creating us and allowing us to fall, God displayed His mercy, grace, forgiveness, and sovereignty. Redemption through Christ shows us the depth of God’s love and commitment to restoring the relationship. It serves the purpose of establishing God’s sovereignty over sin, death, and Satan. God used the Fall for His sovereign purposes and plan for creation and mankind. He also used even the Fall to reveal His character and glory.

God created us to invite us into a relationship that brings Him glory. In allowing the possibility of sin, God could show His justice and righteousness by dealing with sin, as well as His incredible grace and mercy by providing the way of salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23–26). The Fall was not the end of the story, but the beginning of God’s divine narrative that displays His glorious character and purposes to redeem and restore to the world. Through our journey, God’s purpose unfolds, revealing that His grace is sufficient even in our weakness and failures (2 Corinthians 12:9). As He draws us into a relationship with Himself, we see that His plan is always perfect—using even our imperfections to display His glory and to bring us into a deeper, everlasting fellowship with Him (Romans 8:28–30).

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; Compelling Truth is the Discipleship site of Got Questions Ministries. 

What is a Theocracy?

A theocracy is a system of government in which religious leaders hold political power, often invoking divine authority and basing laws on religious texts. It essentially means "government by God". In a theocracy, religious principles often shape governance, policies, and societal norms. The primary source of power in a theocracy is a religious body or individual who claims to represent divine authority. Laws and policies are often derived from religious texts and doctrines, with the belief that they are divinely guided. 

 

Is Heaven a Theocracy?

Yes, traditionally, heaven is considered a theocracy in the sense that it is ruled by God. This concept is rooted in the belief that God is the ultimate authority and the source of all power and wisdom in the heavenly realm. 

In the context of heaven, God is viewed as the ultimate, supreme, sovereign ruler.  Religious texts and beliefs often portray heaven as a realm where God's authority is absolute, and his laws are upheld by heavenly beings. Earthly theocracies involve human religious leaders exercising power, heaven is a realm where God himself directly governs. 

  In the Abrahamic faiths, heaven is often depicted as a place where God's will is supreme and his presence is felt in all aspects of existence. In the Christian faith, heaven is often described as a place where God's will is perfectly carried out and where all beings are in harmony with his divine plan. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Behavioral Action

     ·       Behavior is HOW we act

·       Action is WHAT we do

·       Motivation is WHY we do it

 

                  It can be rather daunting when you realize that God, who knows all that can be known, knows how you will act, what you will do, and MOST importantly, WHY you do it prior to it happening. Our behavior as a follower of Christ, should begin to look at least somewhat like Jesus’ behavior. That doesn’t make you any better or more important than anyone else, it just means you’re attempting to follow God’s plan for living. Actually, it’s what a follower of Christ is supposed to be doing. When it comes to serving God there is a very large learning curve. This is because of God’s love, mercy, patience with all of His creation.

                  We should take a serious look at our behavior – how we act. How do we act when we’re alone. When we’re with family. When we’re with others. When we’re in public. It really should be pretty much the same. Of course, you’re going to be more relaxed around people you know, but the Holy Spirit has the ability to teach us how to act in a Godly way in any type of situation. But you have to feed your spirit man by reading God’s Word regularly. Make it a point to learn something new about the Lord each day. 

                  Our actions should be an outcropping of our behavior. What we do should reflect what means the most to us. If it’s ourselves, then we’ll act with arrogance or have an overblown sense of importance and superiority over others. There are no doubt some Christians who fall into that category. We’re not at all perfect, but God knows our potential. So if we submit to His leadership in our lives, we will eventually reach our greatest potential and be used by the Lord to that extent.

                  Our motivation comes from our heart. Do we do things for OUR benefit or the benefit of OTHERS. Are we focused on personal notoriety or just seeking to lift up Christ by our words and/or our actions. When people see you in action what do they see? Christ or you? That is essentially the sum of Behavioral Action.

                  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 REALLY MEAN to Follow Jesus? - Addendum

             One of my post recipients had a question regarding the general premise of my post from yesterday morning, titled “What Does it REALLY MEAN to Follow Jesus?” She pointed out that Romans 10:13 says, “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” There is no doubt that God’s desire is to bless everyone who places their trust in him.

                  Paul is quoting from the prophet Joel in the Old Testament. The time period of Joel’s service as God’s prophet was roughly 835-796 BC. During this time period Judah had become prosperous, which led to complacency. They began to take God for granted, turning to self-centeredness, idolatry and sin. Joel’s warning to them was that their lifestyle would inevitably bring about God’s judgment. Joel speaks of a terrible locust plague that will strip the land of all its crops. Desolation will be the end result. This was just another call to repentance for the children of Israel. 

                  The message Joel has is for us today too, for many of us call ourselves followers of Christ, yet are spiritually lazy and have lessened the importance of imitating the Lord in our own minds. Joel 2:12-13 says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”

                   “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.” - Joel 2:32 ^{New Living Translation}

                  Along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be the outworking of salvation for those who truly trust God as Redeemer. To "call on the name of the LORD" is to call on him in believing faith (Ps 99:6; 145:18; Ro 10:3), which gives not only physical deliverance but a spiritual transformation and an abundant entrance into that great millennial period of peace and prosperity, when Judah and Jerusalem are once again spiritual centers for a redeemed Israel (cf. Hos 3:5; Mic 4:6-8).

                  While Joel is referring to the Jews from his time period, who already believed in God, I believe we can still use this text to validate my posts meaning for it speaks of a sincerity of the heart of the Jews.

                  My only meaning regarding calling on the name of the Lord is that it must come from a sincere and contrite heart. It cannot be a glib gesture of simply acknowledging Him without allowing any change to come to your daily routine.  

I welcome questions and other points of view. Anyone who’d like to make a comment, please, by all means, feel free. I am neither a theologian, nor the son of a theologian. I simply have a wealth of valid resources at my disposal that help me come to my conclusions. Could I be wrong? While I try to be extremely careful disseminating posts regarding God’s Word, I certainly can be mistaken. That’s precisely why you readers should check out for yourselves the validity of what I have shared if you have a question regarding the posts content. Have a wonderfully blessed day as you seek to serve our King. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The portion explaining Joel 2:32 comes from my Minor Prophets study from last year.