Who Does God Use?

 

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” - 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

          There are those in this life who consider themselves wise, yet their wisdom pales in comparison to the wisdom of the One who made them. Others spend countless hours in fitness centers pumping iron to get strong only to strut their stuff in public as a means of showing off their newfound muscles. Their so-called strength is nothing compared to the power of Almighty God. God has chosen to use the things considered weak and foolish to advance the kingdom. He has chosen to use those that society has cast off as less desirable to proclaim His goodness. Perhaps it is because they are the most pliable, the most easily molded into what He seeks to use. Those who see themselves as wise or strong do so to their own discredit. Their conceit is their undoing. They take credit for things that they haven’t done and therefore diminish the role of God. God shares His glory with no one ^{(Isaiah 48:8 & 11)}. 

          It should be made clear that we are not talking about literal fools and weaklings, but rather those that are perceived by society to be so. God can use what and whom He so chooses to get a point across. Humbleness and humility are two traits’ Christians are to have. Those who think themselves wise or strong are hardly who God is looking for to complete His mission, for their wisdom and strength are self-proclaimed and therefore of little use to Him. It is the meek, the humble, the passed over who God delights in using. They think little of themselves and doubt their own abilities regularly. God can lift them up and speak through them. Moses was a murderer with a speech impediment, David was an adulterer and also a murderer, Noah was a drunk, Jacob was a liar, Rehab was a prostitute, Jonah ran from God, Peter had a quick temper – they have one thing in common: they were all used mightily by God. 

          As already stated, God shares His glory with no one. Those whom He chooses to use are flawed, fault filled people who, as a result, seek no glory for themselves. They seem to understand who God is in the grand scheme of things and realize that they are incapable of anything without His guidance and assistance. We need to be humble. It’s truly an honor to be used by God. He could have chosen anyone in creation, and He has chosen you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is Your Worth?

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” - Luke 12:6-7

             What do you think you’re worth? Did you know you’re of incalculable worth to the God who created you? Think about how insignificant five sparrows would be. Let’s take a brief look at the sparrow. There are five species of sparrow in the world today. The largest species group is referred to as True Sparrows. There are 27 different types of True Sparrows flitting about the earth. Sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. The different species can weigh anywhere from a 1/2 oz to 1-1/2 oz.. Sparrows, which are primarily seed eating birds, have an extra bone in their tongues to help stiffen it giving them the innate ability to hold their seed firmly in their mouth.

             The first thing that could be said is regarding the intricacy of the bird’s skeletal structure, especially the extra bone in its tongue to aid in eating. Do you seriously think that just happened? I choose to believe that it was by grand design, and the designer was Almighty God.

             It’s like the mustard seed, which was said to be the tiniest seed in Bible times. It is the perfect example for the amount of faith that is required to believe, just as one of the tiniest birds is a perfect example of one’s value or worth. If God, in all His power and wisdom, values the sparrow and doesn’t neglect them in any way, how much more does He value you? Luke makes a good point in saying that every single hair on your head is numbered. He knows how many hairs you have on your head!! With that in mind I would venture to say that God also knows the number of grains of sand there are on the earth’s beaches. It is meant to show that God cares and not just in a casual way. He cares for you intimately. He cares about everything that matters to you. He loves you and wants you to know it. 

You may be down and out and have nothing positive going in your life, but God still loves you. If you seek His face and trust in Him, He will never fail you. We have nothing to fear. We are not worth more to God than one sparrow, but rather many sparrows. If He takes good care of the little birds of creation, He will most assuredly take good care of you, but you must have faith - you must believe. You must place your complete trust in Him. It is easier if you know Him and to know Him comes from reading the Bible. In it we find promises of His never-ending love and the fact that He will never leave or forsake us. God cares deeply for you as an individual. Never forget that. Call out to Him regardless of your situation. He’s there waiting to hear from you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Value Others Over Yourself

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” - Philippians 2:3-4

         Paul knew that the two greatest enemies to unification among God’s people is “selfish ambition and / or conceit”. These characteristics are self-centered, which is the opposite of what is being stated.  When someone “looks out for number one”, that is un-Christlike and displeasing to our Lord. That type of person may outwardly believe in congregational unity, but his actions speak far louder than his words. Selfish people tend to gather a group around themselves to promote their own interests. That can be a recipe that could produce seeds of contention and strife. Steer clear of all of that.

            Being selfless is a totally foreign concept to the human mind. We cannot imitate Christ on our own … it’s not possible. It’s only when a believer allows the indwelt Holy Spirit to empower us that we can begin to resemble the Lord in words and actions. 

            I would venture to say that we all have quite a number of people around us that know us pretty well. I think it’s safe to say that they would notice if your behavior changed significantly. Valuing others above your own interests is supposed to be a primary function of the true believer. It’s not easy to sidestep your own interests in favor of the interests of others, but it is something we need to work on because it is how God wishes us to behave. We must seek these things from the Lord and adhere to that which the Holy Spirit reveals to us. Selfless behavior is a product of a humble spirit. Humility was modeled by Jesus especially when he went before Pontius Pilate, was beaten and nailed to a wooden cross. He didn’t fight back but knowing the importance of this actions that led to his death, he willingly allowed his life to be taken from him so that all of mankind could be forgiven of their sin. That was selfless humility on full display. Imitate that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Believer’s Bible Commentary

True Friendship

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”- Philippians 1:3 

 

friend noun 1a: one attached to another by affection or esteem.

 

            Although the Apostle Paul is saying this to the church at Philippi, I would like to generalize this scripture to make a point about our own brothers and sisters in the faith; those throughout our lives who have been our friends, not to mention, a wonderful blessing to us through thick and thin. There are those individuals, perhaps family members, perhaps co-workers, someone in your neighborhood or church members, who have meant a lot to our spiritual growth in this life. Some are in our lives for only a short while, a single chapter in our lives, then are gone. They are a true friend to us, and we thank God every time they come to mind. They are encouraging, empathetic, kind, helpful … they are living examples of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. There is a mutual love and respect for one another. No judgment or condemnation comes from their lips. They are understanding and supportive, no matter what we have gotten ourselves into. That is a true brother or sister in Christ; that is a true friend. They don’t condone misdeeds in any way, seeking to be instructive rather than combative, so as not to hurt us and/or drive us away. When a true friendship has been forged, it cannot be severed by age or distance. 

            We all have someone, perhaps more than one, who falls into that category. Actually, a true friend can be somewhat of a rarity. Frankly, our wife or husband really should be our best, most true friend, in addition to being our lover and life companion. God has blessed us with true friends whom we need to thank Him for. They are stabilizers; they help add structure to our lives. God knows what we need and provides these people in our lives to help lighten our burdens as we walk through this valley of tears called life. May God be praised for His wisdom and compassion, for without the friends who enter our lives, our struggles this side of heaven would be much greater. Hopefully we are that type of friend to someone. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The World for Your Soul

“What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?”- Mark 8:36 

            The world tantalizes with wealth, glitz, glamour and fame. People become slaves to fashion and live paycheck to paycheck chasing that next big event or technological advancement. Their attention is kept focused on anything and everything that promises satisfaction, fun and popularity. The devil is an expert at deceit. Those trifles dangled in front of them are nothing more than a mirage that shall disappear when you need them the most. Christ asks a very poignant question to those following him: what good is it to gain everything and yet have nothing and what good is it to lose your very soul in the process. The time spent chasing after temporal things would have been better spent seeking eternity, for it is in the things that shall NOT pass away that true satisfaction is found. 

            The world scoffs at Christians. ‘Look at all you are missing’, they say. ‘Only the weak-minded need Jesus’, they say, ‘He’s nothing more than a crutch.’ They don’t understand. Perhaps they never will. Christians find hope and peace and true freedom in their relationship with God. It has nothing to do with religion; it is an intimate, personal relationship with our Creator. So, while the world chases after the unattainable, we shall continue to seek God and gain far more in the process than those in the world shall ever possess. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Word of God

Psalm 119:33-37 “Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”

           While this is considered by many to be one of David’s Psalms for structural and content reasons, his name doesn’t appear in the beginning as the author, so it is generally considered one of the “orphan psalms”. It is the longest chapter in the Bible at 176 verses and has long been read for its’ inspiration.

          The writer implores God to teach him His ways. Key words are littered through these four verses: teach me, give me understanding, direct me, turn my heart, and turn my eyes. The writer is asking God to act on his behalf for a specific reason; he wants to follow God’s decrees, keep His laws, and not turn toward selfish gain or worthless things. How badly do we all need to pray this for ourselves? I know I have stumbled badly throughout my walk with God and need to commit these verses to memory and then live them. Saying these words and following through are two completely different things. Our world is filled with distractions that draw us away from the things of God. We become so easily entangled with obligations and chores, leaving little time to seek God. It is in God that we find what we are truly looking for and need so badly: peace, contentment, comfort, love, forgiveness, mercy. These are found in no one else.

          Once we get into the word of God and allow it to speak to us, it will change our perspective on things. Sure, we must tend to things during the day, but we needn’t allow those things to dictate our lives. Within the Bible lies a wide variety of truth, inspiration, wisdom, encouragement, and guidance to last a lifetime. Let God into your daily life. Seek His face and pray for others. Watch God work as you rely a little more on Him each day.

 

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

 

          The word of God can speak to the human heart like nothing else can. It’s God’s instruction manual for life. Let it minister to you in the deepest part of your heart and soul. Allow your spirit to connect with the Spirit of God and feed on His wisdom. His word will give you strength and encouragement even in your darkest hour. God is with you wherever you go ^{(Joshua 1:9)}. He will not forsake or abandon you ^{(Deuteronomy 31:6)}. God can be relied upon, just like His word, to take you in life where you need to go for His glory.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Visible Image of God

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation …”. - Colossians 1:15

            If Colossae existed today, it would be in the southern section of modern-day Turkey. The issue in this church was the infiltration of some believers who were attempting to combine elements of paganism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. Paul wrote to combat these errors and show that Christ alone is more than sufficient to meet all a believers’ needs than anything outside God’s standards. This letter was written in approximately 60 AD.

                  The first sentence in verse 15 speaks directly to the divine nature of Christ. Not only is Christ equal to God ^{[Philippians 2:6]}, but ISGod ^{[John 10:30, 38; 12:45; 14:1-11]} by virtue of the saying that he is “the visible image of the invisible God”. Jesus “is and was and is to come”. He was the most intimate part of creation in that he existed prior to there being anything in existence. There is nothing our Lord cannot do for us and is in complete control of everything he has created.

                  Paul spent a good portion of his letter emphasizing that our focus must be on Christ as our sole provider and sustainer. We must also focus on God’s word and not another person’s perception of what God meant with what he said. The standard we must follow is God’s word and his word alone. Worldly philosophies and conjecture re: Christianity will only confuse you, not draw you any closer to God. Draw close to God. Rid yourself of worldly habits that can quickly turn into sin. Praise the Lord with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Praise his name without ceasing, for this is what we are called to do. Until next time walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries