Quote Contemplations

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein 

            To be a success in life you must be able to accomplish whatever goal you happen to set for yourself. Success has the potential to become egocentric in that you do things for your own notoriety; for your own sake and not necessarily for anyone else, though certainly not always. Pride and arrogance CAN become enemies of success if they are allowed to be. Achieving success on any level for the betterment of humankind is admirable and also desirable. This must be kept in mind, so you seek success for the right reason(s).

            To be of value means to be useful.  It can mean a few other things, but for my purposes “useful” fits the bill. It is commonly used to indicate that something or someone provides a benefit, or significance, and is not always assigned to monetary worth.  

While it is true that a benefit of success can be that it is useful as well, being useful as an individual can have a positive influence on all who are touched by one’s usefulness. 

The quote on top isn’t tied to spirituality per se, but can be fashioned in such a way as to edify believers. Matthew 10:31 states that believers in Christ are of more value than the sparrows of the field. Hence, we are of great value. As we spread the Gospel the words of God enhance the value of the receiver. 

It would seem that just as trust is linked to faith, so success is linked to value. When a person is of value then their words and actions become more important. Think of Paul or Peter as just two examples of men of value who were successful in what they did, though it never translated into financial gain. Many times just the opposite. Be a person of value to those around you. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

You Are Loved!!

         Life can be very hard at times. It can be unfair. There are times when we can feel forgotten, overlooked, or even unloved, even by the ones who made a covenant to love, honor, and cherish till death do us part. There’s something I’d like to impart to you all. YOU ARE LOVED!! You are not loved superficially, but rather eternally. Almighty God, who created you in your mother’s womb, loves you deeply and without reservation. He created you out of love, and sent His Son to die in your place out of love. His greatest gift to mankind is a life for a life. Even if we wanted to, we could never do for ourselves what Christ did for us all. 

            If you feel down and out today; if you feel disregarded or irrelevant, know this day that you are loved more than any person on this earth could love another. Our attempts at loving someone, whether family, friend, or spouse end up being weak and in many cases unacceptable in the eyes of the God and the recipient.  The only way we can know how to love anyone is thru our relationship with God. 

            This world has no idea how to love another person. It has nothing to do with the material goods, money, or sex. Those are by products of loving someone, but in and of themselves are inconsequential. 

            The bottom line here is that if you desire to actually BE loved, you must tap into God. You must turn control of your life over to Him, not just as Savior, but as Lord. The world has sold you a bill of goods; a cheap imitation. If it weren’t true then why are there so many “loving” couples getting divorced? God’s Word tells us we are loved by Him. You will find true love nowhere else.

            Until next time, walk with the King & allow Him to love you.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

“It’s NEVER right to do wrong, but conversely, it’s NEVER wrong to do right.” – RL Keller

            The wrong thing may be easier, it may be more profitable, or may make you popular with the wrong crowd, but the wrongs things are addressed in Proverbs. The Amplified Bible translates Proverbs 14:12 thusly; “There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but its end is the way of death.” Could mean physical death; however, when man goes his own way his spiritual presence drowns in a sea of conceit & ignorance. Man feels that going it alone is the correct path to take. On that path man is enticed with many questionable things. There are many tangent paths one could take.

            Doing the right thing is always preferable, with one caveat... a person’s heart motivation. Your motivation for doing something is known to God alone (and the doer of the action him or herself, of course). God judges our heart’s motivation. Doing something for recognition or notoriety is arrogant and worthless in God’s economy. A humble spirit allows a person to do whatever happens to be necessary without fanfare. Not being noticed is or at least should be their goal.

In Matthew 6:3, Jesus says "don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing". In other words, give so discreetly that the giver themselves doesn’t dwell on their own generosity.  They want to show that the act was motivated by pure love rather than a desire for any sort of recognition. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

“Wealth, if you use it, comes to an end; learning, if you use it, increases.” – Swahili Proverb

            What a great proverb!! Money may pay for a lot of things, and it certainly is necessary to survive, but it is not the end all and be all of anything. However, when you learn something new it stays with you forever. The Bible teaches us that “... the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.” [1 Timothy 6:10 Amplified Bible]  

A common misconception is that money itself is evil, but that would be incorrect. What I’ve said many times is that there is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth. What’s important is “how you got it and what you do with it”. 

Money is a very important resource, but it will never be as important as the acquiring of knowledge. You can accumulate knowledge thru the years and have it at your disposal for a lifetime. Knowledge can help you in so many ways; but monetary gain can only do so much. From a biblical perspective, knowledge can lead a person to salvation, but money cannot save a man’s soul. You cannot buy your way into heaven or God’s good favor. Those things are offered by God freely thru your seeking forgiveness from a lifetime of iniquities.

Learning is one thing, but concentrating on learning scripture from God’s Word is where your future takes off in a spiritual direction. You cannot lose by investing time in God. The vast benefits can only be of a positive nature and not negative. So keep money where it belongs and devote more of your time to learning life altering teachings from our Lord. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb

 

            A dear sweet Christian woman from my past had a saying that I found to be true. It was “Truth is truth wherever you find it. Just eat the meat and pull out the bones.” The above proverb falls under that category.

The Samurai Code suggests that fear is a mental construct rather than a physical reality.  Simply put, a ‘mental construct’ is something that is constructed by one’s mind. Our imagination can be very active as we invent in our minds scenarios that may or may not take place. We don’t KNOW that they will but the possibility of a certain thing actually happening can generate fear in one’s mind. This is how anxiety takes place, and it’s purely mental. 

I know about anxiety because back in the ‘80s I was dealing with a lot of very stressful situations at work and at home. Some were my doing and some were part of the rigors of my job. Fear is not a fun thing to have to deal with. I’ve been on a couple different prescriptions to help deal with it. I am also claustrophobic. 

I know personally how irrational fear can be at times. I once described a full blown panic attack as having your body react as if there was a loaded gun directly in front of your face, yet nothing is there. So now you can see why I was attracted to the proverb above.

Dealing with fear can become very difficult at times. This particular proverb shows us that the level of intensity your fear is determined by a person’s thoughts or perceptions.

I firmly believe the following statement to be true: “a person’s perception IS their reality. Your mind can convince you that something which isn’t true or real actually IS. Your mind can be a powerful force for either good or evil, whichever way your tendencies lie. 

            This proverb implies that a person can have power over their fears thru mental discipline, so that anxiety doesn’t dominate their minds. Many times our fears are imaginary; a figment of our imagination. Ask the Lord to strengthen your mental discipline so you can overcome the fears in your life. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

“Life is 10% what happens to you & 90% how you react to it.”- Charles R. Swindoll

 

            I would say we pretty much have no control over what happens to us in our lives. With that in mind I share this quote from Rev. Swindoll* It appears to me that our lives end up being defined by how we react to circumstances that arise each day. Having said that it is my firm belief that followers of Christ are NOT defined by their past mistakes and God never holds those things against us.

            Our attitude is tied directly into our response to things that arise in our daily lives. Do we have a positive or negative attitude? That answer comes from what we feed our mind. If we feed our mind positive affirmations we should have a positive disposition, which by definition would be our mood or temperament. Feed your mind a steady diet of negative words and thoughts and you will dispense those type of responses.

            All this has to do with our ability to exhibit self-control. We need to have a “want to” to learn how to utilize self-control; a “want to” to learn from the Holy Spirit who is more than willing to train us. God’s word is also a premium way to learn what is expected of us as Christ’s followers. So prepare yourself to deal with the challenges the enemy throws your way to disrupt your walk. Satan can do nothing to you unless you open the door to him. Otherwise the only thing he can do to any of us is just what God allows him to do as a means of teaching us spiritual truth.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Charles R. Swindoll is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, and educator born on October 18, 1934.  He is the founder of Insight for Living, a global radio ministry, and the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. 

 

Quote Contemplations

“The first duty of love is to listen.”- Paul Tillich*

 

                  Listening should be the byproduct of hearing; however, hearing doesn’t always translate to listening. You can hear something all day long and not even realize there is noise being produced. It could be words spoken, lyrics from a song, music, construction sounds. Just because you hear it doesn’t mean you are listening. I will go so far as to say that when there is noise and you don’t want to hear it, you can always put on white noise from a white noise app on your phone or laptop. If you care about someone or something you will be courteous enough to actually listen.

            In friendship or marriage listening to one another is paramount to the relationship. It shows that you care about them enough to have interest in what they are saying to you. Communication needs to be important in any relationship. Two-way communication. It shouldn’t ever be a solo event, at least not as a rule. Listening is support. Listening is appreciated. Showing you care in a tangible way is vital to any relationship. 

            Intimacy in a marital relationship is very important, but listening can mean more if it’s real and not phony. Acting like you care when you actually don’t will be found out sooner or later. You can’t fake loving someone, but physically showing you care enough to make the other person more important than yourself is showing them love... true love that should be lasting. You must make it sustainable, not hit or miss. So listen more than you speak and show those you love that you truly care. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Paul Johannes Tillich (1886 – 1965) was a German & American Christian existentialist philosopher, religious socialist, and Lutheran theologian who was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century.

YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT

             Let’s face it, at times actions sometimes contradict one’s profession of faith. Although Christians are not to judge others, they can be “fruit inspectors”. 

            Matthew 7:16, 20 state, “You can identify (false believers/teachers) by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.” “...just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

            False believers/teachers were prevalent in Jesus’ day, as they are today. If they are humble and do not seek any sort of glorification, chances are they are legit. Only God can truly know the heart of an individual, however, as we become closer to the Lord we too will see thru the thin veil that covers a persons motives. We are not to chastise them, but rather pray for them and if the opportunity arises, speak with them in an instructive and encouraging way realizing that no man is perfect. Just as God has forgiven us, He will forgive them if forgiveness is sought. We must walk in a spirit of humility, understanding all too well that “there but for the grace of God go I”. ^[1]

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] John Bradford, English church Reformer and martyr (1510–1555).

Rash Decisions

            We think the grass is always greener on the other side; however, we never take into consideration the cost it took to get the grass to look so lush and green. COUNT THE COST before you make a decision, so it doesn’t end up being a RASH decision in the end.

What on earth is a RASH DECISION?  “A rash decision is a choice made quickly and without thinking about the future results. It is an impulsive action driven by sudden feelings rather than careful planning. These choices often lead to mistakes, regret, or bad outcomes.” ^[1]

When you make a “rash” decision there typically is no pre-planning involved. It involves acting before looking at the facts or options. These kind of decisions are many times emotion-driven; often caused by anger, panic, or excitement. Learning how to be patient will help defuse rash decisions.

Some examples of rash decisions could be quitting your job in anger without having a new one lined up; buying an expensive item online late at night without checking your checking account; or yelling something hurtful in an argument before listening to the other person. 

            Making rash decisions could easily be classified as “impulsive” and needs to be removed from your behavior like you would pull a weed from your garden. Those type of decisions breed trouble for the decision-maker. As followers of Christ we need to learn how to develop better self-control. It can be done; however, it, like many other Christian attributes, take time and perseverance. It won’t happen overnight. Until next time, work at being kind to others in any and all situations.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] This detailed definition came from Collins Advanced Learner’s Dictionary; copyright © HarperCollins Publishers.

Is God good?

             In a world filled with evil & its associated pain and suffering, how can we say that Almighty God is “good”? Who provides the definition for what is good? Could it be mortal man? I would say that was not possible because it is a definition that is universal and needs to be so. Why? How many people do you know who agree on the meaning of certain things. Face it, pretty much everyone would have a different definition for any given word. How could you possibly find a topic that EVERYONE in existence would agree on. I would have to say that would be impossible.

            An antitheist by the name of Christopher Hitchens, well known for his anti-God writings and statements, has gone so far as to write a book titled “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”. My contention with that sentiment is that I do not consider true Christianity a religion at all, but rather an intimate association with a loving God. I cannot speak for or against religion, because I don’t consider myself to be part of one. I believe I have a personal relationship with the One who created me in my mother’s womb. I have chosen to believe that, and I have the right to do so.

When God revealed Himself to Moses and the nation of Israel, it was in these terms: “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth’” (Exodus 34:6, emphasis added throughout).

The Bible says this about the eternal, Creator God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). If a gift is “good,” it ultimately comes from God—the unchanging God. “You are good, and do good” (Psalm 119:68).

“Good” is the consistent scriptural description of the nature and actions of God. In the Bible’s earliest revelation about God and His creative acts, the word “good” is used repeatedly. God described as “good” the things He made on the various days of creation, and the overall work of creation was summarized as “very good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25).

According to the Bible, God is good. To not believe that He is good is to negate His Word. While that is certainly your prerogative, it is too convenient a way to debunk its’ validity. To understand God and His Word, you must ask Him to reveal His truth to you, then be watching and listening for His “still small voice”. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Dealing with Grief

"Grief changes you, but it doesn't have to define you. You don't get over the loss of loved ones; you learn to live with the void, and in doing so, you discover how sacred life really is. You owe it to them—and to yourself—to keep loving, keep creating, and cherish every single morning you wake up to." — Pierce Brosnan, actor

 

            I thought this was tremendous advice. We all eventually experience the death of a loved one at some point in our lives. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer when she was just 53. I was 24, and not a Christian yet so it was very difficult to deal with. I was away at college (north Jersey), and I knew my mom had gone to the hospital for an operation. No mention of cancer. Story goes that the surgeon opened her up, saw that she was riddled with cancer, closed her back up and when she awoke, told her she didn’t have long to live. Within a couple weeks she had passed on. Finding that out when you’re there with your dad to see her and that she had just passed on was a very bitter pill to swallow. 

                  We always miss our loved ones, but Pierce is right. We must learn to live with the void. We need to come to grips with how quickly time passes and how fragile life truly is. We must learn to embrace the life that we have left and make the most out of every single moment. We will never know when our ticket will be punched. Knowing Christ helps immeasurably in dealing with all this. Why? Because he knows you and the one who passed on. He knows how you feel and His Word can act as a salve to begin the healing process. 

                  Nothing and no one can replace a parent, sibling, spouse, grandparent, or child, but God knows all about it and can ease the pain. When you have a precious memory or see an old picture of the one who has passed on, isn’t it possible that God had something to do with that? I just think He might.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Cravings

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

 

Have you ever gotten exactly what you wanted yet still felt empty and unsatisfied? How many times have you seen something someone else you know has and wanted it? 1 John 2:15-17 speaks to this. We’ll call those things “cravings”. Something you want but do not need. 

The apostle John cautions believers to avoid loving the world. The world is a “Me First” place where the flesh becomes your master, caring only about RIGHT NOW. Short lived satisfaction. When you feed your flesh reason goes out the window. Any means to gain some sort of pleasant seems justified to the worldly mind. The Lord knows the outcome of dabbling in such things, hence the warning. 

As followers of Christ we shouldn’t allow what we see to dictate what we feel we need.

Comparison can lead to a downward spiral. Craving what others have can lead you to being dissatisfied with what YOU have. Everything this world has to offer has an expiration date. The things of God are eternal.

            Don’t allow your identity to be built on what impresses others. Humility is important from God’s perspective. Personal achievements can be very rewarding; however, what level of importance you place on them can make all the difference in the world. We need to remember that our calling as followers of Christ has never been to impress others, but rather to follow God. He is to be our focal point. 

            Material possessions are fine for what they are, but again I say it all depends on how much importance you place on owning them. They tend to take up space you really don’t have and before you know it you’re tired of looking at it and stick it in a spare room. Just another dust collector. Use your time and money wisely. You are shortchanging yourself unless you are placing your focus on Godly things that will matter much more than any material thing. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Christianity and Sin

Christianity is not the only “religion” that deals with sin. The concept of sin is present in various religious traditions, including Judaism and Islam, among others. In Judaism, sin is understood as a violation of divine commandments, and there are different categories of sins, such as deliberate sin, accidental sin, and sins committed by those raised in non-Jewish environments. In Islam, sin is viewed as opposition to Allah, rooted in human pride. Additionally, other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism address similar concepts through ideas like karma and moral transgressions. Each religion has its own framework for understanding, addressing, and atoning for sin.

Christianity IS the only “religion” where the remedy for sin is linked directly to Jesus of Nazareth, or more importantly, to His gruesome death on a cross. Islam doesn’t believe Jesus actually died on a cross at all: “mainstream Islam does not believe that Jesus died on the cross.  According to the Quran, specifically verses 4:157-158, Jesus was not killed or crucified; rather, God saved him and raised him bodily to heaven.” ^[1]

“Judaism does not believe Jesus died on the cross in any theological or doctrinal sense, as his life and death hold no religious significance in the Jewish faith. While some Jews may accept the crucifixion as a historical possibility executed by the Roman Empire, they explicitly reject the theological interpretations central to Christianity, such as atonement, resurrection, or Jesus being the Messiah.” ^[2]

No other set of religious beliefs allows for the complete eradication of all a person’s sins. None. Only Christianity, which offers complete and total forgiveness of all sin once for all time. What an incredible exchange. One man’s life in exchange for the removal of all sin from each person who professes faith in Christ. Amazing! Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/muslim-creed/was-jesus-crucified/

^[2]  https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/jewish-views-of-the-resurrection-of-jesus

I Have a Question

What is Discipleship?

 

            Discipleship or being a disciple, involves a spiritual excursion learning from a master teacher. The disciple imitates the master’s life and lives according to his instructions. A Christian disciple is an ardent follower of Jesus Christ. It is a process that the believer goes thru during the course of his or her life as a redeemed follower.

            I see a painful lack of discipling going on in the churches I’ve attended in Southern & Central New Jersey.  That’s not to say it isn’t done in churches throughout the country, and even the world, but I’ve attended many churches in the 48 years that I’ve been walking with the Lord and at least in those churches there wasn’t a whole lot of discipling going on. And that is what Pastors are called to do, are they not? 

That is why it is incredibly important for believers to NOT wait to be spoon fed, but learn how to feed themselves.  As I’ve said in other writings, we must learn to FEED our Spirit-man & STARVE our “Old Man”. Our old sinful nature would never be allowed in heaven, but we’ve been BORN AGAIN of the Spirit of God. We are a NEW CREATION. The OLD is past, behold all things have become new.

Don’t wait for someone to disciple you. If your churches has a discipleship program, then hallelujah and praise the Lord. But if they don’t, learn to FEED YOURSELF. It takes discipline and a heartfelt desire to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and a positive, Godly example to those around you. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question

What are the Roles in the Trinity?

 

The Father

The Father is the source of all things, the creator of the universe, and the sustainer of life. He is described in Scripture as a loving and just God, who desires a relationship with His creation.  The sustenance provided by the Father is not merely physical but also spiritual, as He continually upholds the moral order of the universe. The Father is seen as a loving provider who meets the needs of His creation, ensuring that the world He crafted continues to flourish and reflect His glory.

 

The Son

The Son is the physical form that God took in the person of Jesus Christ. Through the incarnation, Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, joys, and sufferings, making Him relatable to us. This act of taking on flesh demonstrates God's deep love and commitment to humanity, bridging the gap that sin had created. The Son's role as the Savior is most clearly seen in His redemptive work on the cross. Jesus' death and resurrection are the cornerstone of Christian belief, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

 

The Holy Spirit

Often described as the "Counselor" or "Advocate," the Holy Spirit provides wisdom, direction, and understanding to those who seek to follow God's will. This guidance is not limited to moral decisions but encompasses all aspects of life, including relationships, career choices, and personal growth. The Holy Spirit works within the hearts of believers, illuminating the Scriptures and making the presence of God real and tangible in their daily lives.

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

In His Name, for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of life Ministries

*https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/god-in-three-persons-a-doctrine-we-barely-understand-11634405.html#google_vignette

I Have a Question

What is Spiritual Atrophy?

             Spiritual atrophy is the gradual loss of faith, strength, and inner peace caused by the neglect of spiritual habits like prayer, worship, and helping others. Just like a body muscle gets weak when you do not use it, your inner spirit grows weak when you stop practicing your beliefs. ^[1]            

Spiritual atrophy is a real thing that many Christians suffer from. Praying & reading scripture begin to feel like boring chores. Refusing to change or grow which will stunt your maturation process. We must never lose our sense of wonder for the Godly things that surround us or the need to draw close to Him each day. 

            If you find yourself in this downward spiral, try changing a few habits that are designed to jumpstart your spiritual walk again. Try starting with brief prayers for yourself or others. Nothing long and drawn out for starters. Make it a point of reading a single verse of scripture each day. Make it a point to be kind to those you encounter each day. That will elevate in you your sense of caring for others. Spend your time around positive people. Conversely, avoid negative people for that will kill your self-confidence. Taken seriously, your recovery can be fairly swift. It depends on how seriously you take your relationship with God.

            Until next time, treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://www.citychurchau.com/blog/spiritual-atrophy

I Have a Question

Does God Rule Over the Entire Universe?

 

According to Judeo-Christian theology & biblical texts, God DOES INDEED rule over our entire Universe. God created all things, from the biggest things to the tiniest particle. It is thru him that all things both work & hold together. 

He is Sovereign, which means he has TOTAL authority & control. His sovereignty is different than a worldly Sovereign, for Almighty God is in complete control of all eternity. Worldly Sovereigns get old & die eventually. God was & is & is to come. The Lord is timeless; he adheres to no actual system of time. In other words God exists outside of time & space. This why he’s Omnipresent or everywhere at the same time.

            Yet if God is in absolute control than why was Jesus captured, tortured & killed when there could have been a thousand angels waiting on his call to come down and stop the crucifixion? Nothing prevented Christ’s death because it was God’s deliberate plan & foreknowledge. All that Jesus went thru had to take place per God’s plan to save us from our sinful selves.

            “Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.”

Psalm 137:13 NKJV

 

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].” – Psalm 103:19 AMP

 

            God sustains and rules the universe primarily through the immutable physical laws He has established, which govern all natural phenomena* and human behavior. In addition to this, the Lord retains the power to intervene via miracles. All authority, whether human or spiritual, is subject to God’s will. He is described as having complete control over history, nations, and individual lives, ensuring that nothing occurs outside His permissive or direct will. That would mean that all earthly and heavenly authorities are subject to God’s will. Jesus Christ is the unrivaled sovereign who upholds all things by His power, possessing the keys of death and Hades, and ruling over both the physical and spiritual realms. Almighty God is the ultimate ruler of everything in existence. He created it and He rules over it. The universe may seem extremely large in comparison to the earth itself, but to God, the universe is simply something else He has created and has control over. Until next time, serve the Lord by imitating Christ.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by human senses.

I Have a Question

How are we to act as followers of Christ?

 

Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it is not provoked, nor overly sensitive or easily angered; it does not take into account a wrong endured.  It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears all things regardless of what comes their way, believes all things looking for the best in each one, hopes all things remaining steadfast during difficult times, endures all things without weakening^{. [1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Amplified Bible]}

                  If you want to know how God defines “love” then look no further than the passage shown above; 1 Corinthians 13... the Love Chapter. The world has it all wrong. Generally speaking, they’ve mixed up love with lust. Just because you go to bed with someone doesn’t necessarily mean you love them. That approach can cause a large amount of consternation on the part of both parties involved. The woman who wanted kids but NOT NOW!! The man who didn’t want the commitment that comes with raising a child... so he vanishes adding another number to the already growing single parent ranks. THAT is not love. That is the height of selfishness. Having “fun” without dealing with the inevitable consequences.

            Love is SELFLESS. Love views the other person are more important than you are. Love is a 100-100 proposition; not 50-50 as the experts say. Love is either ALL IN or NOT ALL IN. It MUST be 100% ALL IN for both parties. God IS LOVE and therefore is 100% invested in His relationship with those He created. No regrets. No hesitancy. Just full bore, unselfish, unconditional love for all. 

Does the Lord get frustrated with His creation? Because His purposes are set from the foundations of the earth, nothing man can say or do even begin to thwart God’s plans. He’s knows we are frail and fault ridden. We say and do dumb things; however, it’s not as if God doesn’t know us so well that these mistakes take Him by surprise. 

We are asked to emulate Christ in our daily life. We can never use the excuse that we don’t know how God wants us to act, for the blueprint is clearly revealed in 1 Corinthians. Don’t fight knowing the Lord; embrace that relationship and allow your faith and trust in God to thrive amidst the chaos that rages all around us. Until next time, live your life following God’s statutes, with no regrets, and thrive in Jesus name.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries